Summer is a fun time of year when everyone is outside and staying active, especially kids and teens. When people are more active, however, accidents are more likely to occur. Read on for tips on how to prepare for a dental emergency this summer!

Save Our Office Number in Your Phone

If an injury that is tooth, gum, or jaw-related occurs near Atlantic Dental Partners, contact our Jamaica Plain office at 617-524-1110 or our Malden office at 781-321-0018 for emergency dentistry. Our team can offer assistance over the phone. Once we understand the situation, we can either offer you advice for taking care of the issue at home, or we can begin clearing our schedule and preparing a treatment room for your emergency dentist appointment.

First Aid Kit Items for Dental Emergencies

There are a few common household items that we recommend keeping on hand in case a dental emergency occurs in your household:

• Salt is great to have, as it can be used to help reduce gum swelling and numb the pain of a mild toothache. Simply mix a teaspoon of regular table salt in a cup of warm water and swish it around your mouth for at least thirty seconds before spitting it out.

• Gauze and ice packs help with dental and non-dental emergencies to stop bleeding and reduce swelling and pain.

• Ibuprofen is an over-the-counter pain medication that helps reduce swelling, but acetaminophen is better to use if bleeding is occurring, as it is not a blood thinner.

Protecting Your Smile

If you or your child are involved in aggressive contact sports like football, hockey, wrestling, or rugby, we recommend investing in a custom athletic mouthguard to protect teeth during games and reduce the risk of needing an emergency appointment. If a tooth gets chipped but it is not accompanied by pain or blood, emergency treatment probably won’t be necessary. However, we will want to schedule an appointment in the near future to take care of the tooth. If a tooth is cracked, broken, or completely knocked out, you will want to give our office a call right away so we can advise. One of the best ways to avoid other kinds of dental emergencies is by taking good care of your teeth and gums at home and visiting our office regularly for routine cleanings and exams.

Emergencies Seen Promptly at Atlantic Dental Partners

We know that dental emergencies can be very stressful. Our office is here to help you prevent injuries and also to take care of you when they happen. Schedule an appointment for preventive care and hopefully we can help you avoid most dental emergencies.