Dental emergency care starts with you.

As with anything related to dental health, when it comes to emergencies, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That said, try to use common sense in preventing oral injuries. Avoid chewing hard candies. Don’t use your teeth to tear into packaging. When participating in contact sports, always wear a mouth guard.

Sometimes even when we’re careful, things happen, though. If you should injure your mouth or break a dental appliance, it’s best to call your dentist right away and schedule an appointment for the same day. If your dentist does not offer same-day appointments in emergency situations, you should seriously consider finding one who does. Early treatment following an injury saves teeth. Wait too long, and it could be too late to save yours!

Dental injuries can be scary, but freaking out will only exacerbate the problem, so try to remain calm and take the following tips from the American Dental Association. It’s a good idea to clip and save this for future reference.

Bitten Lip or Tongue

Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce any swelling. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.

Broken Tooth

Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. Call your dentist immediately.

Cracked Tooth

Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth that has the cracked tooth, and call your dentist to schedule and appointment.

Jaw-Possibly Broken

Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Go to your dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.

Knocked Out Tooth

Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Remember to take the tooth with you!

Objects Caught Between Teeth

Try to gently remove the object with dental floss; avoid cutting the gums. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, contact your dentist.

Toothache

Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact your dentist.

Curtis H. Roy, D.D.S., has served Acadiana residents with a general dentistry and specialty practice since 1970. Find his practice on the Web at www.drcurtisroyandassociates.com, visit the office at 3703 Johnston St., Lafayette, or call 981.9811, and look for him on Facebook and Twitter.