Dr Hamill has put together a list of suggestion on “What to do” when problems occur.
Fractured or Broken Tooth Punctures Skin: Rinse your mouth with salt water if you have it. Regular water will work if salt is not available to help prevent infection. If there is bleeding apply pressure to the affected tissue and cover with a wet gauze or clean piece of cloth. Monitor the amount of blood loss to determine if blood is clotting. Do not remove fractured or broken pieces of your tooth that are embedded deeply into your skin or oral cavity. If you are able to take pain medication,* do so and contact our office right away.
Gums Start Bleeding: Typically this is gum disease also referred to as periodontal disease. A daily dose of brushing your teeth after meals (or at least twice a day) and flossing daily should help reduce blood loss. However if bleeding persists contact us right away.
Canker Sores: Gently brushing and rinsing with salt water to help keep the area clean. After about two weeks you should notice a significant reduction in size. Applying pain medication to the affected area is not recommended, tablet /pill form should suffice.* Also make sure to avoid consuming acidic food.
In general, Advil (Motrin/Ibuprofen) 200mg every 4-6 hours should help pain and reduce inflammation. Tylenol (Acetaminophen) 325mg every 4-6 hours is a good alternative. Different pain medications can be described once your situation is evaluated.
