Dental Emergencies in Mississauga

Please call our Mississauga dental office right away at (905) 965-0066 if you experience a dental emergency. We are open on weekends and evenings, and will gladly get you in at the earliest possible appointment!

How to reduce the chance of a dental emergency

Being proactive is the best way to avoid dental emergencies. For example, if you are regularly active in sports, consider getting a mouthguard since sports often involve a lot of physical contacts. Another important prevention method is to be careful when eating certain foods. This includes not only foods that are hard (which can cause cracked teeth) but also foods that are sugary since these can lead to decay and make your teeth more vulnerable.

Getting routine check-ups at our Mississauga dental office can also help identify any loose fillings or any signs of infection or decay, both of which are risk factors for a dental emergency. Routine check-ups coupled with regular dental hygiene practices are very effective at reducing the chance of a dental emergency.

Types of dental emergencies:

Toothache / Swelling

Clean around the sore tooth by rinsing with warm salt water. To ease the pain take an over-the-counter pain medicine that works for you, but do not put the pills on your sore tooth. Hold an ice pack against your face at the spot of the sore tooth. Any swelling under the eye or down the throat should be treated immediately.

Badly Bitten Lip or Tongue

If there is bleeding, press down on the part of the mouth that is bleeding. Use a clean cloth to do this. If the lip is swollen, use an ice pack to keep the swelling down. If the bleeding does not stop, go to Emergency at a hospital right away.

Chipped or Broken Tooth / Lost Filling

Broken teeth can almost always be saved. Put a piece of softened sugarless chewing gum or dental wax in the spot where the filling was lost or the tooth was broken. This will protect the area for a short period of time.

Jaw Pain

Most patients with jaw pain or TMDs get better by themselves without any treatment. To help ease sore jaw muscles, place a cold or warm compress to your jaw and gently massage your jaw muscles. Eat soft foods, try not to open your mouth too wide, even when you yawn. And most importantly, relax your jaw muscles. Wearing a night guard often helps your jaw joints and muscles to relax.

Knocked Out Tooth

For an adult knocked out tooth see the nearest dentist IMMEDIATELY! Carry the tooth in a cup of saline, milk, or water (in order of preference). Do not allow the tooth to dry out. Try to handle the tooth as little as possible. If this cannot be done in a speedy manner, try to put it back in its place. First rinse the tooth GENTLY with saline, milk or water (in order of preference) by holding it by crown end and not the root end. The sooner the tooth is reinserted the greater the success of healing. Baby teeth cannot be put back in place!

Something Stuck Between Your Teeth

First, try using dental floss, very gently and carefully, to remove the object. Tying a knot in the floss can create a rough surface to snag a stubborn food particle while pulling the floss through the space between your teeth. After flossing, roll it up in a tiny ball and put it in the garbage. Never flush floss down the toilet. Never poke between your teeth with a pin or similar sharp, pointy object; it can cut your gums or scratch the tooth surface. If you can't get the object out, please call us.

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