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Painkillers (following packet instructions).
Warm salty mouthwash.
If you have difficulty swallowing, swelling in your face or cheek
or difficulty opening your mouth, call your dentist. You may need
antibiotics if an infection is spreading.
MANAGING MOUTH ULCERS
Painful ulcer getting you down?
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Warm salty mouthwash.
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Excellent cleaning (even if it is painful to brush, the mouth
must be kept clean to encourage healing and prevent more
ulcers forming).
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Difflam (Benzydamine) spray or mouthwash as needed (from
your pharmacy).
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Soft diet (soft food will reduce trauma from biting).
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Painkillers (following packet instructions).
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Rubbing dentures, if present. Any sharp edges can be removed
using an emery board. Denture adhesives like Fixodent may
help secure a loose denture. Remove dentures when possible
if causing trauma.
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Corsodyl mouthwash (avoid use for over a week as may cause
staining).
LESS URGENT
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Dealing with the less urgent emergencies can often be done at home
and will buy you time until dental practices are up and running again.
LOST A CROWN
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MANAGING PAIN AFTER AN EXTRACTION
Continue to take regular painkillers for several days after extraction;
it is normal for the pain to be at its worst at day 3-4. Some pink spit/
oozing is normal after an extraction, but if the socket is bleeding
freely, bite hard on gauze or a clean hankie for 20 minutes. If the
bleeding has not stopped, call your dentist.
If the site has become infected, your dentist will arrange for a course
of antibiotics to clear the infection.
If you smoke or rinse too soon after an extraction, you risk a dry
socket. This can be very painful and regular painkillers or antibiotics
are unlikely to be effective. You should call your dentist for an
emergency appointment. Dry socket generally appears after 3-4 days
when the discomfort seemed to be getting better but returns at a level
that may even exceed the original toothache.
USING PAINKILLERS
FOR DENTAL PAIN:
Anti-inflammatories (like ibuprofen) can help reduce sensitivity from
teeth. Make sure you take ibuprofen with or after food. Combining
paracetamol and ibuprofen has also been shown to be effective.
If you have no coronavirus symptoms, carry on taking ibuprofen as
normal.
FOR TREATING ANY COVID-19 SYMPTOMS:
There is currently no strong evidence that drugs like ibuprofen can
make COVID-19 worse, but the NHS is still evaluating this. Until
we have more information, take paracetamol to treat symptoms of
coronavirus, unless your doctor has told you paracetamol is not
suitable for you.
Always read the instructions and follow them. Taking more than the
recommended dose will not improve the symptoms and can make
you ill. Taking too many tablets can cause serious stomach and liver
injury.
Loose or lost crowns, bridges or veneers.
Broken, rubbing or loose dentures.
Bleeding gums.
Broken, loose or lost fillings.
Chipped teeth with no pain.
Loose orthodontic wires.
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Be gentle with your crown. If the crown does not fit easily, don’t
force it. Arrange a dental appointment as soon as possible and
keep the tooth fastidiously clean until then.
Clean and check the crown. If the crown is mostly hollow, you
can try to re-cement it at home if you feel confident to do so.
Remove any debris from the crown so that it sits properly. You
can use something like the tip of a paperclip to scrape the old
cement away. Clean your tooth thoroughly.
Check the crown fits without cement. Does the bite feel correct?
If the tooth feels too tall, it is not fitting correctly. Check for
debris inside the crown. NEVER force a crown or post onto
your tooth; this can cause the root to fracture. If you cannot
get the crown to fit, don’t panic. Keep the tooth clean and wait
until you can see a dentist. Protect the exposed tooth in the
meantime as best you can.
Crowns should be replaced using a dental cement from
a pharmacy like Recapit. DO NOT USE SUPERGLUE or
FIXADENT to fit your crown.
Once you have practiced placing the crown, dry the tooth and
crown, mix the cement as instructed on the packet and fill the
crown. Place the crown directly onto the tooth and bite firmly
to press it down into place.
Remove any excess cement with a toothpick and floss between
your teeth to make sure they do not get stuck together.
BLEEDING FROM GUMS?
This is NOT a dental emergency. Bleeding gums are usually due
to gum disease and will not stop until brushing and oral hygiene
improves. Brush 2x a day with fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes,
concentrating especially on the areas that are bleeding. Use floss or
Te-pe brushes to clean between your teeth every day.
PROBLEMS WITH YOUR BRACES?
If you are undergoing orthodontic treatment and have a problem
your first point of contact should be your orthodontic practice. They
will have an emergency system like general dentists have in place for
their patients.
Finally, please remember when you call your dentist that they
want to be in work looking after their patients. We all feel helpless
and find the current situation desperately frustrating so please
be kind when you call, they are trying to do their best in difficult
circumstances.
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