Mouth and Dental Injuries

Home Treatment

First aid steps

If you need to see a health professional for your injury, call to arrange for your care and follow these steps for:

• A tooth that has been completely knocked out. A permanent tooth can sometimes be put back into its socket (reimplanted). The best results occur if a dentist puts the tooth back in the socket within 30 minutes. Chances of successful reimplantation are unlikely after 2 hours.
• Bleeding in the mouth. Return any skin flap to its normal position. If necessary, hold the flap in place with a clean cloth or gauze.
• A tongue or piece of tongue that has been cut off. Wrap the piece of tongue in a clean cloth or sterile gauze, if available. Put the wrapped piece of tongue in a bag of ice to keep it cool. Do not put the tongue directly on the ice. Do not immerse the tongue in ice water. Go to the emergency room right away. Take the bag with you.
• A broken tooth or dental appliance. Find any pieces of tooth or the broken dental appliance and take them with you when you go to see your dentist. Your dentist will want to check for missing pieces of tooth or dental appliance that may have been left in a wound, swallowed, or inhaled into the lungs (aspirated).

To reduce pain and promote healing

• Apply a cold compress to the injured area, or suck on a piece of ice or a Popsicle as often as desired.
• Rinse your wound with warm salt water immediately after meals. Saltwater rinses may promote healing. To make a saltwater solution for rinsing the mouth, mix 1 tsp (5 g) of salt to 1 cup (250 mL) of warm water.
• Eat soft foods that are easy to swallow. Soft foods include:
  • Milk and dairy products, such as milk shakes, yogurt, custards, ice cream, sherbets, or cottage cheese.
  • Meat and meat substitutes, such as tender meats or chicken, tuna, eggs, or smooth peanut butter.
  • Fruits and vegetables, such as well-cooked or canned fruits and vegetables; well-ripened, easy-to-chew fruits; and baked, mashed, or well-cooked sweet potatoes.
• Avoid foods that might sting, such as salty or spicy foods, citrus fruits or juices, and tomatoes.
• Do not smoke or use other tobacco products. For more information, see the topic Quitting Tobacco Use.
• Do not drink alcohol.
• If a jagged tooth or orthodontic wire or bracket is poking you, roll a piece of melted candle wax or orthodontic wax and press it onto the part that is poking you. Use a pencil eraser to press a broken wire toward your teeth. These are only temporary measures to use until you can see your dentist or orthodontist to fix the problem.
• Try a topical medicine, such as Orabase or Ulcerease, to reduce mouth pain.

Medicine you can buy without a prescription

Try a nonprescription medicine to help treat your pain:
Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol or Panadol Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Ibuprofen, such as Advil or Motrin Naproxen, such as Aleve or Naprosyn Aspirin (also a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), such as Bayer or Bufferin

Safety tips

Be sure to follow these safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine:

Carefully read and follow all directions on the medicine bottle and box. Do not take more than the recommended dose. Do not take a medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to it in the past. If you have been told to avoid a medicine, call your doctor before you take it. If you are or could be pregnant, do not take any medicine other than acetaminophen unless your doctor has told you to. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20 unless your doctor tells you to.

To protect a slightly loose tooth: Teeth that are slightly loose but still in their normal position should tighten up in 1 to 2 weeks.

• Eat a diet of soft foods for 1 to 2 weeks.
• Be gentle when you brush or floss.
• Wear a mouth guard or face protection if you participate in sporting activities.

To remove objects or food stuck between teeth

• Use dental floss to remove objects or food stuck between your teeth. Guide the floss carefully between your teeth and avoid "snapping" the floss, which can cut your gums.
• Do not use anything sharp to remove an object that is stuck between your teeth or under your gums.

To remove a very loose baby tooth in a child

• First, tilt your child's head forward and down so that when the tooth comes out, it doesn't fall to the back of the throat, causing your child to choke or swallow the tooth.
• Grasp the tooth with gauze or a washcloth, and pull firmly with a twisting motion.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment.

• New symptoms develop.
• Signs of infection develop.
• Home treatment is not helping relieve discomfort.
• Symptoms become more frequent or severe.

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA	Last Updated: December 1, 2006
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Steven K. Patterson, BSc, DDS, MPH - Dentist
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.