By now, we hope that you know to brush your teeth every day, twice a day, and to floss at least once every day. The especially diligent will also regularly attend their dental checkups and cleanings every six months. These simple yet effective oral hygiene techniques are your best defense against destructive oral health issues like tooth decay and gum disease, and can help keep your smile shining its brightest. However, when an emergency occurs, you may need more than good dental hygiene to save your tooth. To help prepare you for a dental emergency, your Astoria family dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, explains proper emergency techniques.
Sudden Toothache
A tooth can ache for a number of reasons, but typically, none of those reasons are benign. If your tooth hurts, but there is no visible traumatic damage, try flossing to remove any food debris that may be lodged between them. If the discomfort continues, call our office immediately and arrange a consultation with Dr. Leibowitz. Apply a cold compress to your cheek, on the side with the aching tooth, to help relieve the pain and reduce swelling, if present.
Chipped/Broken Tooth
If your tooth chips or breaks, rinse your mouth with warm water to clear the area of dirt and debris. If possible, gather the broken pieces of the tooth, rinse them as well, and bring them with you to your appointment with Dr. Leibowitz.
Loosened/Partially-Dislodged Tooth
A severely-loosened or partially-dislodged tooth should not be disturbed for fear of completely removing it. Discomfort is common, so apply cold to reduce the pain until you can reach our office.
Fully Knocked-Out Tooth
If you tooth is completely knocked out, retrieve it and rinse it with water. Take care to grab the tooth by the crown, rather than the root. You can attempt to replace the tooth in its socket, but if this fails, place the tooth in a small container of milk or salt water and bring it to our office. There is a chance that the tooth can be saved, but time is of the essence, so you must see Dr. Leibowitz immediately.
Astoria’s Emergency Dentist
Dr. Leibowitz is happy to address your dental emergency, even if you’ve never visited our office before. If you have a dental emergency, or would like to schedule a consultation with your Astoria family dentist, contact Dr. Leibowitz by calling our Astoria dental officeat (718) 728-8320. Located in the 11106 area, we proudly serve patients from Astoria, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the surrounding communities.
