Weekend Emergency Dental Tips

Some of us have been there. You’re having tooth pain or a weekend emergency dental need and your dentist is closed. If you don’t know what to do and can’t find an open provider that can help there are a few things you might be able to do at home that can ease the pain and carry you over until you can see your doctor on Monday. If you are suffering from a toothache that is accompanied by swelling this usually means there is an infection present that only antibiotics can sort out. You should call the dental office and see if the voicemail provides a direct doctor phone number. If your dentist provides a number to call them on the weekend they may be able to sort out calling a prescription for you to pick up before the weekend ends.

If your toothache is accompanied with mild or moderate pain you can try an over the counter pain reliever such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen that can keep the pain at bay until you see your doctor. If you are taking other medications you should always refer to your doctor. Your current medications may not mix well with over the counter pain relievers and could have serious adverse effects on your health that will put you in a worse spot than your toothache. If you don’t want to make any store bought pain reliever you can opt for using a cold compress on your cheek to work at reducing swelling or alleviating pain.

If the pain you are experiencing is severe and Tylenol and other over the counter pain relievers aren’t working you may want to consider an emergency dentist or urgent care office. If you are worried about infection, do not try to self-remedy the situation with hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice or diluted bleach. Some of these methods will cause tooth sensitivity and damage your enamel others WILL chemically burn your mouth and if swallowed could present life-threatening consequences.

If you aren’t dealing with a toothache you might have a problem with a crown instead. If your crown is loose or has fallen out you can try going to the drugstore and buying an over the counter dental cement to repair it. You can also use denture adhesive or a dab of toothpaste. Before you start slapping on cement and shoving the tooth on like you would a shoe, take a step back. Don’t apply cement. First, place the tooth back in its position and gently bite down to feel if its in the right spot. You can then reposition the tooth if need and apply cement before placing the crown back in its spot.

Let’s say you have lost the crown and can’t find it anywhere. Don’t panic. It happens. To get through the weekend you will want to try to avoid chewing on the side where the lost crown is. Keep in mind that the tooth that once had the crown is very fragile and should be treated with the utmost care. When eating over the weekend and before your appointment with your dentist you should avoid consuming very hot or very cold foods as your exposed tooth will likely be incredibly sensitive to the temperatures. You should probably make the effort to switch to a toothpaste that has tooth sensitivity in mind as well. When the next open office day comes around be sure to sort out your crown issue with your dentist, you don’t want to wait and give your teeth the opportunity to start shifting due to the lack of a crown.

Knowing what to do during a dental emergency can help you keep calm until you can see a professional. The best way to avoid having to contemplate a weekend of a toothache is to have an emergency provider on hand. If you can’t reach your usual dental office you can always be prepared by finding emergency care that works for you. You should look to find a list of emergency care offices that are close to you and accept your insurance. The best way to deal with an emergency is to be prepared for one. You can use a service like DenterActive.

DenterActive is an online communication portal that connects patients with available dentists. Using a system such as are you can manage your oral health appointments and allows you to easily access dentists in your area. You have the opportunity to get a free consultation as well as the ability to manage appointment making and introductory meetings. The DenterActive service is entirely free and we do not have hidden costs. We provide security if HIPA while you use our platform. If you are interested in learning more or creating an account, browse through our website or read more about us.