Aussies advised to learn first aid for teeth
11 August 2003
Australians are being advised by the Australian Dental Association (ADA) to learn ‘first aid’ for teeth, so they can act quickly following a dental injury.
The advice comes during Dental Awareness Month, August 2003, a major oral health initiative run by the ADA.
Dr Don Wilson, Chairman of the ADA’s oral health education committee, said, ‘Australians have a reputation for being cool in a crisis and when it comes to dealing with dental injury this is essential’.
For instance, if a tooth is ‘re-planted’ immediately after being knocked out, it has an excellent chance of recovery.
Incidents of teeth being knocked out or broken are quite common but few people are aware of how to deal with this situation when it arises. The ADA suggest that parents and teachers in particular need to be aware of some basic techniques.
If ‘first aid’ is applied immediately after a dental injury, it significantly increases the chances of a faster recovery and a more satisfactory outcome. The ADA offers the following first aid advice for teeth.
Tooth injury
- When a tooth is knocked out, it should be carefully inspected for debris — avoiding holding it by the root — and, if necessary, gently washed with water or saliva. The tooth should then be put back into the socket.
- If the tooth cannot be re-planted, it should be placed in milk, or stored in Glad Wrap or in the patient's mouth inside the cheek.
- The patient and the tooth should then be taken to a dentist as soon as possible, preferably within 30 minutes. Time is critical for successful replanting the tooth
- If a tooth is broken, try to clean the debris from the injured area with warm water. If a blow to the jaw or mouth causes the injury, place a cold compress on the face next to the injured tooth to minimise swelling.
- If you can, find all the bits that are missing and bring them to the dentist, keeping them moist. In many cases, broken bits can be bonded back onto the teeth almost invisibly.
Toothache
- When it comes to toothache it is usually a sign that you need to see a dentist as soon as practicable.
- In the meantime, relief can be obtained by rinsing the mouth with water and trying to clean out debris from any obvious cavities.
- Use dental floss to remove any food that might be trapped within the cavity (especially between the teeth).
- If swelling is present, apply a cold compress (NOT HEAT) to the outside of the cheek.
- Take pain relief, if necessary, using pain medicines that you know you can take safely.
- It is important to remember that pain relief tablets don’t work directly on the tooth. They must be swallowed as directed. If placed on the tooth, they can cause more trouble (especially asprin).
- If people are travelling overseas or into a remote area and they break a tooth, often they do not need to interrupt their trip to get it fixed, especially if there is no toothache. They can file down any sharp edges with an emery stick and get the tooth fixed when they get home.
Last Reviewed: 11 August 2003
