What to do if your tooth breaks or falls out? (Dental Trauma)

Imagine that you are hit by a ball while playing cricket and a tooth is loose. Or your little child falls down while playing and breaks a tooth. It is very normal to feel very scared and worried at a time like this. But if we do not panic and know exactly what to do, we can prevent a lot of damage from happening. Today we are talking about such accidents that occur in the mouth and teeth, which is medically known as 'Dental Trauma '.

Simply put, what is dental trauma?

Dental trauma refers to any type of accident that occurs in your mouth. This can include damage to your teeth, gums, jawbone, tongue, lips, and any surrounding areas.

These accidents can sometimes be very minor, trivial things. But some accidents are very serious . We consider them dental emergencies that require immediate medical attention .

What types of accidents can occur in the mouth?

There are several types of dangers that can occur in the mouth. It is very important to be aware of these.

What are the first things you should do if you have a tooth injury?

Okay, now let's see what you can do to avoid panicking in the event of an accident like this and before you see a doctor.

• If a tooth is broken: If possible, find the broken pieces and keep them clean. Take them with you when you go to the doctor. If the broken part of the tooth is sharp and is rubbing against the tongue and causing discomfort, you can temporarily apply something like orthodontic wax to the area. But you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

• If a tooth is completely knocked out (this is very important!):
• Grasp the loose tooth: But never grasp the root of the tooth . Only grasp the white part of the tooth (crown).
• Clean the tooth: Rinse gently with clean water. But do not rub with anything.
• Put the tooth back in place: If possible, gently place the tooth back into the gum cavity and hold it in place with a clean piece of cloth.
• If that's not possible: Keep the tooth in your mouth with a little saliva . Or place it in a small container with a little clean milk. Do not put it in water.
• Go to the doctor immediately: This is the most important thing. If you can get to a doctor within a short period of time, like 30-40 minutes , the chances of saving that tooth are much higher.

• If you have a sore mouth: You can take a painkiller like Paracetamol to control the pain until you can see a doctor.

• If there is swelling: Place an ice pack on the swollen area. This will reduce both pain and swelling.

What are the symptoms of this type of accident?

If you have dental trauma, you may experience one or more of these symptoms:

• Toothache
• Tooth discoloration (turning black, gray, or pink)
• Mouth pain
• Swelling of the gums or lips
• Bleeding from the mouth
• Feeling different when chewing, not as familiar as before
• Shaking a tooth
• Difficulty moving the jaw, opening and closing the mouth

What are the main reasons for such accidents?

There are several main reasons why accidents like this often occur.

• Falls: Especially common among young children and the elderly.
• Vehicle accidents: Facial injuries caused by car accidents.
• Sports accidents: Accidents that occur while playing sports such as rugby, cricket, football, and boxing.
• Other causes: These types of accidents can also occur due to traumatic events such as punches to the face during fights and domestic violence.

Things that increase the risk of an accident

Some things may slightly increase your risk of having this kind of accident.

• Playing sports that collide: especially playing without a mouth guard.
• Overjet: In colloquial terms, when the front teeth are "overjetted," there is a greater chance of damage to those teeth even from a small fall.
• Teeth weakened by worm infestation: When teeth are weakened, they can break even with a slight pressure.
• Lip and tongue piercings: These jewelry can hit the teeth and cause them to break or explode.
• Age: These accidents are usually most common among children and young people under the age of 20.

What are the treatments for dental injuries?

Your doctor will determine the most appropriate treatment for you based on the type of injury you have suffered. Here are some of the most common treatments.

How to protect yourself from accidents?

Although accidents cannot be prevented 100% of the time, there are things we can do to reduce the risk.

• Wear a mouth guard when playing sports.
• Wear your seatbelt properly when riding in a vehicle.
• Don't chew ice cubes or hard objects with your teeth.
• Don't use your teeth as tools. For example, avoid using your teeth to tear a tag off a garment or open a bottle cap.
• If you have the habit of biting your nails, stop it.

When should you definitely see a doctor?

No matter what kind of injury you have in your mouth, even if you think it's minor and doesn't hurt, be sure to see a doctor and get it checked out. Because some injuries may not be visible from the outside, but they may be deep inside. If left untreated, they can lead to bigger problems later on, such as tooth decay and bacterial infections.

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