Dental problems can happen when you least expect them. Whether it’s a sudden toothache, a swollen face, or bleeding that doesn’t stop after an extraction, knowing what to do in those first few minutes can make a big difference. Here’s a simple guide to help you take the right steps until you can see a dentist.
What is considered a dental emergency?
The following are considered dental emergencies and urgent care should be sought:
- Severe pain which is not manageable with pain relief
- Swelling which affects the shape of your face – if this spreads to the neck or eye, and/or affects breathing, speaking or swallowing then you must attend A&E as soon as possible
- Bleeding following an extraction (not bleeding gums)
- Trauma to the face, for example after a fall or accident – if there was any loss of consciousness associated with this trauma then you must attend A&E as soon as possible
The following are other issues that may arise which don’t require urgent care but you should still book a non-urgent appointment to have an assessment and plan any treatment required:
- Broken/chipped/cracked tooth
- Lost crown/bridge/veneer
- Lost filling
- Bleeding gums
- Loose tooth
Home care advice:
There are several things you can do at home to try to ease your symptoms.
If your normal pain relief is not helping then you can try taking both paracetamol and ibuprofen in tandem – you would take 2 x 500mg tablets of paracetamol followed 3-4 hours later by 2 x 200mg tablets ibuprofen (if it is safe for you to take), then the next dose of paracetamol 3-4 hours later and so on. This means you will be taking something every 3-4 hours while not exceeding the dose frequency of each individual drug.
Warm saltwater rinses can help – mix a teaspoon of salt into very warm water and use to rinse your mouth. This can be done several times a day. IMPORTANT – if you have bleeding following an extraction, do not rinse as this can prevent clotting.
A cold pack can help relieve the discomfort of swelling – wrap a bag of frozen peas or some ice cubes into a tea towel and hold against the face.
To try to arrest bleeding, roll a clean handkerchief or other cloth and use it to apply pressure to the socket where the tooth was removed. Hold it still or bite down on it for 20 minutes while sitting upright. Don’t keep dabbing at the area or removing the cloth to look.
How to get help:
If you have a dental emergency in Southampton, please do get in touch.
During our opening hours, please call us on our normal number (023 8079 0935) or email reception@bassettdental.co.uk.
Outside of our opening hours, if you think you can manage until the next working day, please leave us a voicemail or drop us an email and we will be in touch as soon as we’re back in the practice.
If you’re unable to manage overnight, or if we are closed for the weekend or bank holiday(s), then you can use the following contact numbers:
NHS patients should contact 111 (the NHS helpline)
Private and Denplan patients can call our out-of-hours urgent care partner, The 247 Dentist, on 03301 759 995.
