The holidays bring a lot of good food to the table. They also bring popcorn kernels, peanut brittle, candy canes and walnut shells, which are some of the most common reasons patients call us with a broken tooth in November and December.
A filling always seems to fall out the night before you drive to see family. Knowing what to do in the first hour can make the problem easier to fix and keep you comfortable until you can be seen.
Summit Family Dental in Shelby Township, MI, sees emergency patients throughout the holiday season. Here is how to handle the most common problems.
Why Dental Emergencies Spike During the Holidays
Holiday eating looks different from the rest of the year. People snack for hours, crack nuts with their back teeth, and chew on hard candy without thinking twice.
A few habits we see cause trouble every season:
- Biting down on unpopped popcorn kernels or olive pits
- Chewing ice from holiday drinks
- Crunching candy canes and toffee instead of letting them dissolve
- Using teeth to tear open tape, packaging or bottle caps
- Skipping a nightly brushing routine while traveling or staying up late
Teeth that already have large fillings, old crowns or small cracks are the most likely to break under that kind of pressure. If you have been noticing sensitivity lately, our post on common causes of tooth pain and sensitivity explains what that can point to.
What to Do in a Holiday Dental Emergency
Each situation calls for a slightly different first step, but in every case you should call the office as soon as you can.
A Chipped or Cracked Tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any pieces of the tooth you can find. A cold compress on the outside of your cheek can help with swelling. Avoid chewing on that side until a dentist looks at it, even if it does not hurt yet. Cracks can spread, and a small chip can turn into a much larger break.
A Lost Filling or Crown
If a crown comes off, keep it in a clean bag or container and bring it with you. Many crowns can be cleaned and cemented back in place. Temporary dental cement from the pharmacy can cover the area for a day or two, but never use household glue. Keep the spot clean and stay away from sticky or very sweet foods. Learn more about how we handle tooth crowns if yours needs to be replaced.
A Knocked Out Tooth
Pick the tooth up by the top (the part you normally see), not the root. Gently rinse it if it is dirty, without scrubbing. If you can, place it back in the socket and bite down softly on clean gauze. If that is not possible, keep it in a small container of milk. Time matters here. A knocked out tooth has the best chance of being saved when a dentist sees it as soon as possible, ideally within an hour.
A Severe Toothache or Swelling
Floss gently around the tooth in case food is stuck there, then rinse with warm salt water. Over the counter pain relievers taken as directed can help in the short term. Do not place aspirin directly on your gums.
Swelling in the face or jaw, a bad taste that will not go away, or a fever along with tooth pain can be signs of infection. Call us right away. If swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, go to the nearest emergency room.
When Can a Dental Problem Wait?
Not every issue needs a same day visit. A small chip with no pain, mild sensitivity to cold, or a piece of food stuck between teeth that you are able to remove can usually wait for a regular appointment.
Pain that keeps you up at night, bleeding that will not stop, a loose adult tooth, or any swelling should be seen quickly. When in doubt, call and describe what is going on. Our team will tell you how soon you need to come in.
How to Avoid a Holiday Dental Emergency
Let hard candy dissolve instead of crunching it, and keep a nutcracker and scissors within reach so your teeth are not doing their job. If you grind your teeth at night or play winter sports, a custom mouth guard is worth asking about.
If you have a cracked filling or a tooth that has been bothering you, get it checked before the holidays. Fixing a small problem in early November is much easier than dealing with a broken tooth on a holiday weekend.
Why Choose Summit Family Dental for Emergency Care
Our emergency dentist services are open to current patients and new patients alike, and we offer same day appointments for urgent cases at our Shelby Township office. Our goal is to relieve your pain first and then talk through options for repairing the tooth.
Patients choose Summit Family Dental because:
- Our office is open early and late Monday through Thursday, with Saturday visits available by appointment
- Our team treats the whole family, from kids to seniors, all in one place
- We can handle most repairs in house, including fillings, crowns, root canals and extractions
- We have earned a 4.9 star rating from more than 1,135 patient reviews
We also serve patients from Macomb, Sterling Heights, Utica, Rochester Hills, Washington Township and nearby communities.
Get Emergency Dental Care With Summit Family Dental in Shelby Township, MI
A broken tooth should not keep you from enjoying the holidays. If you have a dental emergency or a tooth that has been bothering you, reach out to our team and we will get you in as soon as we can.
Request an appointment with Summit Family Dental today.
