Dr. Ali With Our Patient Mary
Do You Have A Dental Emergency?
Do You Have A Toothache?
If your tooth or an area in your mouth is sore or in severe pain, call us right away! It is important to let us know what your symptoms are, and we will try to see you as soon as possible. Dr. Ali may give you advice on how to deal with the pain until you can be seen. Never put any pain pills on your sore tooth or on the cheek beside it. Try to rinse with a mild salt/water mixture twice a day, and avoid chewing on that side until you are seen in the office.
Has Your Tooth Been Knocked Out?
If your tooth is an adult/permanent tooth, Dr. Ali may be able to place it back, so you need to call us immediately! Timing is critical in this type of emergency.
Clean your tooth if needed with a VERY BRIEF gentle rinse with room temperature water; DO NOT scrub it or use soap, and do not allow it to dry out. Once your tooth is clean, gently place the tooth back in its place (the socket where it came from in your mouth) and hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth. If this isn’t possible, or if there’s a chance that the tooth might be swallowed, put it in a container of cold milk. If your tooth is placed back in its socket in your mouth within 20 minutes, it has a fair chance of taking root again. After two hours, the chances are poor. Use a cold compress to absorb any bleeding and be as careful as possible not to move or wiggle your tooth. Keep the tooth in its socket and immobilized as best you can.
Has Your Child’s Baby Tooth Been Knocked Out?
It is very important to contact Dr. Ali at our office as soon as possible. If there is any bleeding, rinse your child’s mouth with water and place moistened gauze (or moistened folded paper towel) in the opening where the tooth has been knocked out. You can also apply a cold compress on the outside of your child’s mouth to reduce swelling. Keep your child calm instead of looking for the tooth, as baby teeth will never be replanted. Never try to reinsert the tooth into the opening as you may damage the permanent teeth growing underneath.
Do You Have A Loose Tooth?
A loose tooth could be caused by gum disease or by a blow to your mouth. No matter what the case is, losing your tooth is a serious problem and you should see Dr. Ali as soon as possible!
Have You Lost A Filling?
If it is a sharp area, or food trapping, you can use a softened piece of sugarless chewing gum to replace the filling in the spot where the filling was lost and call the office to make an appointment as soon as possible.
Do You Have A Chipped Or Broken Tooth?
If you have a chipped or broken tooth, it can hopefully be repaired. Make sure that you contact Stouffville Family Dentistry as soon as possible so we can schedule you as quickly as possible to repair your tooth. Depending on how serious the chipped or broken tooth is, Dr. Ali might use a filling material or a crown to fix the tooth. The sooner it is addressed, you will hopefully be able to save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment.
If your child has chipped their tooth and is bleeding or in pain, contact the office. Rinse your child’s mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. It isn’t critical, but if you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it with you to your appointment.
Have You Badly Bitten Your Lip Or Tongue?
If you have badly bitten your lip or tongue, and it is bleeding, apply pressure to it with a clean cloth. If your lip is swollen, use an ice pack to keep the swelling down. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, call to see if Dr Ali can advise you or go to the hospital to have it addressed.
If your child has chipped their tooth and is bleeding or in pain, contact the office. Rinse your child’s mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. It isn’t critical, but if you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it with you to your appointment.
Is There Something Stuck Between Your Teeth?
Try starting with dental floss to gently and carefully remove the debris. Never poke between your teeth with a pin or a sharp, non-dental object, as it can cut your gums or scratch your tooth. If you still can’t get the debris out, call our office and we will advise you. Rinsing with a mild salt/water mixture twice a day can help to reduce the inflammation of the gums until you can be seen.
Preventing Dental Emergencies
Accidents do happen, but there are ways to avoid injury to your teeth and gums. It’s amazing how everyday habits or eating certain foods can put your teeth at risk. Here’s a list of things to avoid:
- Biting ice. The cold temperature and hard ice can crack and break your teeth or dental work.
- Eating hard foods too fast. Treats like popcorn, hard candy, peanut brittle and shelled nuts should be eaten slowly.
- Using your teeth as tools. Let scissors cut tape and ribbons and open up packaging for you. Avoid lifting or holding things with your mouth.
- Playing sports without a mouthguard. Sports mouthguards absorb shock and protect teeth from damage, especially during contact sports. Dr. Ali can help you with a custom sports mouthguard that is right for you.
Identify Oral Health Issues Before They Happen!
Watch out for early warning signs and symptoms.
- Be prepared for a dental emergency; the name of the after-hours emergency dental clinic we use is listed on our voicemail.
- Follow your visit to the emergency clinic, plan to call and follow-up with Dr Ali to increase your chances of saving your tooth and preventing further damage.
- Help prevent injury and emergencies by not using your teeth as tools and wearing a sports mouthguard during sports activities.
