A common type of injury in the world of sports is a dental emergency. Whether it’s a cut to the mouth or gums, a chipped tooth, or a knocked-out tooth, these types of injuries are extremely common in all sports.
If you’re a player or a parent, you should familiarize yourself with what you should do in the case of any type of mouth trauma.
Are you experiencing a dental emergency right now? Call 780-758-5433 immediately!
Call Your Dentist’s Emergency Line
The first thing you need to do when a player has mouth trauma is to get someone on the phone with a dentist’s emergency line. Much like calling 911, you should designate one person who takes responsibility for this call and acts as a liaison between the medical professional and the person experiencing the trauma. Depending on the nature of the injury, the person who is injured may be able to speak for themselves.
The dentist will advise you on what steps to take next and when to come in for an appointment.
Figure Out What’s Happening
The dentist will work with you to figure out exactly what’s happening. You need to be as specific as possible about the injury.
Here is a heads-up about what to expect, depending on the type of injury.
Blunt Trauma
A ball or puck to the face can cause cuts and bruises around and inside your mouth. If you are experiencing bleeding, apply pressure to stop or slow the bleeding. Depending on the severity of the cut or bruising, your dentist may recommend you wait a couple of days to see how the injury heals on its own.
Tooth Chip or Crack
Never put off seeing the dentist if your tooth is chipped or cracked, even if the crack is seemingly small. Our teeth are constantly under pressure, and a small fracture can quickly become a big problem.
See your dentist as soon as you can and avoid chewing with your cracked tooth until the appointment.
Knocked Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth is considered a dental emergency and you’ll need to get to the dentist within 1 hour of the tooth being dislodged! If you can salvage the tooth, follow these steps:
- Gently rinse the tooth if you notice debris, but NEVER touch the roots. Only handle the tooth by the crown.
- Keep the tooth safe until you can get to the dentist. Shockingly, water is NOT a good way to transfer a dislodged tooth. Instead, place it inside your cheek or use a small container of milk.
Add Preventative Measures
Unless advised by your dentist or doctor, don’t let your sports injury hold you back from getting back on the ice, field, or pitch! Instead, make sure you take action to prevent mouth trauma by:
- Wearing a properly fitted mouthguard.
- Using the recommended helmet for your sport (there is nothing embarrassing about a face shield).
