May 07, 2020
Like other clinics and businesses, we too feel the strain caused by the current COVID-19 situation and, therefore, are unable to provide in-person dental services to those in need. As we patiently wait for updates from the government and other regulatory bodies, we would like to offer you to read upon some useful tips on how you can help assess broken, chipped and loose teeth at your home.
What to do if you chip or break a tooth?
- If experiencing pain, you can rub clove oil onto the surrounding area or take an over-the-counter painkiller such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to ease the pain.
- Carefully floss the surrounding area and brush the tooth as you would normally.
- Apply toothpaste and gently rub it directly onto the broken tooth and leave it without rinsing it off, so that the toothpaste provides an affect.
- You can also buy a temporary filling material and fix the damaged tooth yourself. Filling materials can be bought in most pharmacies and supermarkets and come with easy to understand instructions.
- If you are not experiencing any pain, leave the tooth as it is and make sure to take extra care until you are able to see a dentist for a proper assessment.
What to do if you get a hole in your tooth or lose a tooth filling?
- First, make sure to avoid sweets, sugary foods, and drinks, to avoid causing any additional damage or toothache.
- Second, maintain proper oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day.
- Third, and this is optional, you can purchase a temporary filling material and repair the tooth on your own at home. Most pharmacies and supermarkets sell it and they come with easy to understand instructions.
What to do if you lose a crown or it comes loose?
- Make sure to keep a good oral hygiene to minimise pain and reduce the risk of getting an infection.
- Also make sure to eat and drink less sugary foods and drinks, so that they do not cause any additional pain or dental issues.
- If experiencing pain, take an over-the-counter painkiller to reduce the pain.
- You can try reattaching the dental crown yourself with the help of a dental cementing gel which can be bought at your local pharmacy or online. Just make sure not to use superglue or any other glue like adheseive solutions that are not meant for dental recementing. Once it is possible, make sure to see one of our dentists for a proper check-up.
- If you do not feel comfortable reattaching it yourself, then make sure to keep the dental crown clean and safe until you can come to our clinic and have it reattached.
What to do with a loose or an uncomfortable denture?
- Apply denture adhesive pads or fixative creams to make it more comfortable to wear your dentures. Most pharmacies and supermarkets should sell them.
- You can also you use an emery board to slightly file the unpleasant sharp areas of the dentures, however, we recommend this only if you feel confident enough to do so.
- If your denture causes soreness while wearing it, leave it out for as long as possible until you can book an appointment with our dental team to get it accurately assessed.
What to do if you're experiencing swelling after a dental implant or other surgical procedures?
- If you have recently had an implant placement or any other surgical dental procedure and you are experiencing swelling around the implant or the surgical area, please get in touch with us as soon as possible - click here!
Need additional dental advice or further help?
If you have any questions or if you need any help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch using the contact details on our website! Our team is standing by to help with your questions, while we wait to re-open our clinics.
