One day, you may just have a few twinges of pain in a tooth and a couple of days later, you’re suddenly in agony. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water to remove any food particles. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, but do not place an aspirin against the tooth or gum. That can result in burns to the gum. A cold compress placed against the jaw can help with pain. 

This very often happens at the skatepark, the football field, basketball court or other sports locations. The best thing you can do is place that knocked-out tooth back into its socket, as long as it is still clean. The sooner the root of the tooth can reconnect with blood flow and nerves, the better its chance of healing properly. 

If you must pick up a tooth that has been completely removed from the mouth, never pick it up by the root. Always pick it up by the crown—the upper, white, bone-like part. The best place to store it is tucked inside the cheek where it will be kept damp and safe. With a small child or someone who might swallow it, of course, this would not be advisable. In that case, keep the tooth in milk or saliva. If those are not available, storing it in water will keep it moist. 

The best thing to do is leave the loosened tooth alone and get to our office as soon as possible. Cold compresses can help with the pain. 

Dental work is very sturdy and long-lasting, but decay can develop under some restorations and this decay can eventually loosen a filling, crown or bridge. If this happens to you, try cementing the crown or bridge with dental cement you can get at any pharmacy. (NEVER use any other kind of glue!) If a missing filling is leaving you with intense sensitivity to heat or cold, use the same dental cement to coat the top of the tooth, giving it some protection. Apply cold compresses to help with pain. Save any pieces of broken teeth as they might be used in the repair.

These can be painful or not painful at all. Save any tooth fragments and stop any bleeding by applying pressure with gauze or a clean cloth for ten minutes. Put a cold compress against the face to help with pain and use an over-the-counter pain medication.