Dental emergencies strike without warning. One moment you’re eating dinner or playing basketball—the next, you’re staring at a tooth in your palm, fighting unbearable pain, or spitting blood. What you do in those first minutes matters.
This guide walks you through the most common dental emergencies, what to do immediately, and when to seek professional care. Bookmark it. You never know when you’ll need it.
Is This a Dental Emergency?
Not every dental problem requires urgent care. Here’s how to tell the difference:
Seek immediate care if you have:
- A tooth that’s been knocked out completely
- Severe, unrelenting tooth pain
- Significant swelling in your face, jaw, or gums
- A cracked or broken tooth with sharp edges or exposed nerves
- Uncontrolled bleeding from your mouth
- Signs of infection (fever, swelling, pus)
- Trauma to your jaw or face
Can wait for a regular appointment:
- Minor tooth sensitivity
- Small chips with no pain
- A filling that feels slightly rough
- Mild gum irritation
When in doubt, call your dentist. They can help you determine whether you need same-day care or can schedule a regular visit.
Knocked-Out Tooth
A knocked-out permanent tooth is the most time-sensitive dental emergency. Act fast and you can save it.
What to Do Immediately
-
Find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown (the white part you see when you smile), never by the root.
-
Rinse gently if dirty. Use water or milk. No scrubbing, no soap, no tissue or cloth.
-
Try to reinsert it. Place the tooth back in its socket and hold it there by biting down on a clean cloth. This gives the tooth its best chance.
-
If you can’t reinsert it, keep it moist. Place the tooth in a small container of milk. Milk’s pH and chemical composition help preserve the root cells. No milk? Use saliva (hold it between your cheek and gum) or saline solution. Never use tap water—it damages root cells.
-
Get to a dentist within 30-60 minutes. Every minute counts. After two hours, reimplantation rarely works.
What NOT to Do
- Don’t handle the root
- Don’t let the tooth dry out
- Don’t store it in water
- Don’t wrap it in paper towels or cloth
- Don’t delay—time is everything
Cracked or Broken Tooth
A cracked tooth ranges from cosmetic nuisance to urgent emergency. Severity depends on where the crack runs and how deep it goes.
What to Do Immediately
-
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area.
-
Apply a cold compress to your cheek near the break. This cuts swelling and numbs pain. Fifteen minutes on, fifteen off.
-
Save any pieces. If part of your tooth broke off, rinse the fragments and bring them to your appointment.
-
Cover sharp edges. If the broken tooth has sharp edges cutting your tongue or cheek, cover them with dental wax or sugarless gum as a temporary measure.
-
Take over-the-counter pain relief if needed. Ibuprofen works well because it reduces both pain and inflammation.
-
Call your dentist. A crack that exposes the nerve (you’ll know—it hurts) needs same-day attention. Minor chips can often wait a day or two.
Warning Signs of a Serious Crack
- Sharp pain when biting or chewing
- Pain that comes and goes (especially with temperature changes)
- Sensitivity that lingers after eating or drinking something hot or cold
- Visible crack line running vertically down the tooth
Cracked teeth don’t heal. Left alone, cracks spread and kill the tooth—ending in extraction or root canal therapy.
Severe Toothache
Tooth pain that keeps you awake, ruins meals, or throbs constantly needs attention. Severe toothaches signal something deeper—decay, infection, or damage—that won’t quit without treatment.
What to Do Immediately
-
Rinse with warm salt water. Mix half a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water. Swish gently. This reduces bacteria and can ease inflammation.
-
Floss around the tooth. Trapped food sometimes causes the pain. Flossing may bring instant relief.
-
Take over-the-counter pain medication. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help. Follow package directions. Don’t exceed recommended doses.
-
Apply a cold compress to your cheek if there’s swelling.
-
Avoid triggers. Stay away from very hot, cold, or sweet foods and drinks until you see a dentist.
What NOT to Do
- Don’t put aspirin directly on your tooth or gums. This old home remedy burns soft tissue and doesn’t help.
- Don’t ignore it. Severe tooth pain doesn’t vanish. The cause needs treatment.
- Don’t overdo clove oil. It numbs pain but irritates gum tissue if overused.
Lost Filling or Crown
A lost filling or crown may not hurt, but the exposed tooth invites damage and decay. Don’t ignore it.
What to Do Immediately
-
Keep the crown if you have it. Rinse it gently and bring it to your appointment. Your dentist may be able to recement it.
-
Protect the exposed tooth. You can temporarily reattach a crown using denture adhesive or over-the-counter dental cement (available at pharmacies). Don’t use superglue.
-
Avoid chewing on that side. The exposed tooth is weaker and more sensitive.
-
Manage sensitivity. If the tooth is sensitive, clove oil applied with a cotton swab can provide temporary relief.
-
Schedule an appointment soon. Not always an immediate emergency, but address it within a few days to prevent decay.
If a Filling Falls Out
Clean the cavity gently with warm water. You can place sugar-free gum or dental wax over the hole as a temporary barrier. Don’t chew on that side. See your dentist as soon as possible.
Dental Abscess or Infection
A dental abscess is a pocket of pus from bacterial infection. It forms at the tooth root tip (periapical abscess) or in the gum beside the tooth (periodontal abscess). Abscesses don’t heal on their own. If the infection spreads, it can be fatal.
Warning Signs
- Severe, persistent, throbbing toothache that may radiate to your jaw, neck, or ear
- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- Sensitivity to pressure when chewing or biting
- Fever
- Swelling in your face, cheek, or neck
- Tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck
- Sudden rush of foul-tasting, salty fluid in your mouth (if the abscess ruptures)
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing (seek emergency care immediately)
What to Do Immediately
-
Call your dentist right away. Abscesses require professional treatment—antibiotics, drainage, or root canal therapy. You cannot treat this at home.
-
Rinse with salt water to draw the infection toward the surface and reduce discomfort.
-
Take pain medication as needed for comfort.
-
Don’t apply heat. While it might feel soothing, heat can cause the infection to spread.
-
Go to the emergency room if:
- You have difficulty breathing or swallowing
- You develop a high fever (over 101°F)
- Swelling is affecting your ability to open your mouth or is spreading to your eye or neck
Dental infections that reach the bloodstream (sepsis) or airway can be fatal. Don’t wait this one out.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Cuts to your lips, tongue, cheeks, or gums can bleed heavily, but they usually look worse than they are.
What to Do Immediately
-
Rinse gently with salt water to clean the wound.
-
Apply pressure with gauze or a clean cloth. Hold firm for 15-20 minutes. Steady pressure stops most bleeding.
-
Apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek to reduce swelling.
-
Check for embedded objects. If something is stuck in the wound, don’t remove it yourself—see a dentist or go to urgent care.
When to Seek Professional Care
- Bleeding doesn’t stop after 15-20 minutes of pressure
- The wound is deep, gaping, or won’t stay closed
- You can’t remove debris from the wound
- The injury was caused by a dirty or rusty object
- You notice signs of infection (increasing pain, swelling, pus, fever)
When to Go to the ER vs. the Dentist
ERs stabilize patients, manage pain, and treat life-threatening infections—but they can’t fix teeth. Here’s when to go where:
Go to the Emergency Room if:
- You have difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Facial swelling is spreading to your eye, neck, or throat
- You have uncontrolled bleeding that won’t stop
- You’ve experienced significant facial trauma (car accident, assault, fall)
- You have a high fever with facial swelling
- You’re showing signs of sepsis (confusion, rapid heartbeat, extreme illness)
Go to Your Dentist (or Emergency Dentist) if:
- You have a knocked-out tooth
- You’ve broken or cracked a tooth
- You have severe tooth pain
- You’ve lost a filling or crown
- You have a dental abscess without the severe symptoms listed above
- You have soft tissue injuries that have stopped bleeding
Your dentist has the tools to fix the problem. The ER manages symptoms and sends you to a dentist anyway. For most dental emergencies, call your dentist first.
What to Expect at an Emergency Dental Visit
Knowing what happens cuts anxiety when you’re already stressed.
Triage and assessment. The dental team will evaluate your pain level, examine the problem, and determine urgency.
Pain management. Your comfort comes first. They’ll numb the area before any treatment.
Diagnosis. X-rays help identify what’s happening beneath the surface—hidden infections, root damage, or fracture lines.
Treatment. Depending on your emergency, treatment might include tooth reimplantation, repair with bonding, root canal therapy, extraction, abscess drainage, or temporary restoration.
Follow-up instructions. Before you leave, you’ll get home care instructions and a return date if needed.
Most emergency dental visits take 30-60 minutes, though complex cases may take longer.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
You can’t prevent every dental emergency, but you can reduce your risk:
- Wear a mouthguard during sports and physical activities
- Don’t chew ice, hard candy, or popcorn kernels—they crack teeth
- Don’t use your teeth as tools to open packages or bottles
- Maintain regular dental checkups to catch problems early
- Address small issues before they become big ones—that small cavity won’t fix itself
When a Dental Emergency Strikes in Nashville
Dental emergencies don’t check calendars. They strike at dinner, on weekends, at the worst possible times. You need a dentist who sees you fast and fixes the problem.
At Nations Dental Studio, we prioritize emergencies and often have same-day openings. Knocked-out tooth, severe pain, possible infection—we’re ready.
Don’t wait through the night in pain. Call us for emergency dental care or contact us to discuss your situation. We’ll get you seen and get you relief.