Quick answer: The most common dental emergencies are toothache, knocked-out teeth, chipped or broken teeth, lost fillings or crowns, and abscesses. For each, rinse gently with warm water, avoid placing painkillers directly on the gum, use a cold compress for swelling, and contact an emergency dentist promptly, some situations, like a knocked-out tooth, are time-critical.
Dental emergencies never happen at a convenient time. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes can genuinely be the difference between saving a tooth and losing it. Here are 10 of the most common situations and exactly how to respond to each.
1. Toothache
The most frequent dental emergency, usually caused by decay, infection, a cracked tooth, or gum disease.
What to do: Rinse your mouth with warm water. Gently floss to check whether food trapped between teeth is the cause. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek if there’s swelling. Take over-the-counter pain relief if needed, but never place aspirin or any painkiller directly against the gum or tooth, this can cause a chemical burn to the tissue. Contact your dentist, particularly if the pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by swelling.
2. Knocked-out tooth
A genuine emergency where speed matters more than with almost any other dental injury.
What to do: Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), never the root. Rinse it gently with clean water if it’s dirty, without scrubbing or removing any attached tissue. If possible, try to reinsert it into the socket, facing the right way, and hold it there. If that’s not possible, keep it moist in milk or your own saliva rather than letting it dry out, and get to a dentist immediately. A tooth has the best chance of being saved if it’s reimplanted within an hour. We’ve broken this specific emergency down into full step-by-step first aid if this is happening to you right now.
3. Chipped or broken tooth
Common from biting something hard, a fall, or an impact to the face.
What to do: Rinse your mouth with warm water to clear any fragments. Save any broken pieces if you can find them and bring them with you. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If there’s a sharp edge, dental wax (or even sugar-free gum in an emergency) can protect your tongue and cheek until you’re seen.
4. Lost filling or crown
A filling or crown can come loose or fall out entirely, often while eating.
What to do: Keep the filling or crown if you can, your dentist may be able to reattach it. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. If the exposed tooth is sensitive, a small piece of sugar-free gum or dental cement from a pharmacy can offer temporary protection, but this isn’t a substitute for seeing a dentist promptly, since the tooth underneath is now exposed and vulnerable.
5. Dental abscess
A swollen, painful infection at the root of a tooth or between the tooth and gum, this is one of the more serious entries on this list.
What to do: Rinse with warm salt water to help draw out some of the infection and soothe the area. Contact a dentist urgently, an abscess doesn’t resolve on its own and can spread to surrounding tissue or, in rare cases, become a wider health risk if left untreated. Seek emergency care immediately if you develop facial swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing or breathing.
6. Loose or shifted tooth
Unlike baby teeth, adult teeth shouldn’t loosen on their own. A loose tooth after a fall or impact usually means trauma has affected the supporting structures.
What to do: Avoid touching or wiggling the tooth further. Apply a cold compress if there’s swelling. Contact your dentist immediately, and if the injury followed a significant fall or blow, it’s also worth having a dentist check that nothing else, including the jaw, has been affected.
7. Bitten lip, tongue or cheek
A soft-tissue injury rather than a tooth injury, but still common alongside dental trauma and can bleed heavily.
What to do: Clean the area gently with water. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If bleeding doesn’t stop within 15 minutes of firm, gentle pressure with clean gauze, seek urgent care, as some soft-tissue injuries need stitches.
8. Object caught between teeth
Uncomfortable rather than dangerous in most cases, but worth handling correctly to avoid making it worse.
What to do: Try gently removing it with dental floss. Never use a sharp or metal object to dig at it, this risks damaging the gum or enamel. If flossing doesn’t work, a dentist can remove it safely rather than risking injury trying to force it out yourself.
9. Broken braces or wire
An orthodontic emergency rather than a tooth injury, but it can cause real discomfort if a wire is poking into the cheek or gum.
What to do: If a wire is protruding and causing irritation, try gently pushing it into a less painful position with a cotton swab or pencil eraser, and cover the sharp end with orthodontic wax if you have it. Never cut a wire yourself, contact your dentist or orthodontist for a proper fix.
10. Persistent bleeding after a tooth extraction or dental work
Some bleeding after a dental procedure is normal, but bleeding that doesn’t settle can indicate a problem.
What to do: Bite down gently but firmly on a clean piece of gauze for 30 to 45 minutes without checking it repeatedly. Avoid rinsing, spitting forcefully, or drinking through a straw for the rest of the day, this can dislodge the blood clot forming at the site. If bleeding is heavy or continues well beyond this, contact your dentist promptly.
When it’s genuinely urgent vs when it can wait for a routine appointment
As a general rule: a knocked-out tooth, significant bleeding, an abscess with facial swelling, or any dental trauma alongside a fall or head injury needs urgent same-day attention. A dull, manageable toothache, a small chip with no sharp edge, or minor sensitivity can usually wait for the next available appointment, though it’s still worth being seen promptly rather than hoping it resolves on its own.
If you’re ever unsure which category your situation falls into, call us directly rather than guessing, our team can tell you over the phone whether you need to come in immediately.
If a dental emergency happens in Northampton, call Cliftonville Dental on 01604 604545 as early in the day as you can. As an emergency dentist in Northampton, we offer same-day emergency appointments wherever possible, and our team can tell you over the phone what to do while you wait. Our practice is at 65 The Avenue in Cliftonville, a short distance from the town centre and easy to reach from areas such as Abington, Kingsthorpe, Duston and Weston Favell. We open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm, plus one Saturday a month.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a dental emergency? Situations involving significant pain, bleeding, swelling, a knocked-out or badly displaced tooth, or trauma to the mouth or jaw generally count as emergencies needing prompt attention. Minor chips or mild sensitivity can usually wait for a routine appointment.
How long can a knocked-out tooth survive outside the mouth? A tooth has the best chance of being successfully reimplanted within about an hour of being knocked out, kept moist in milk or saliva if it can’t be placed straight back into the socket. Every extra minute reduces the likelihood of a successful outcome.
Should I go to A&E or a dentist for a dental emergency? For a knocked-out tooth, dental trauma, or a dental abscess, contact an emergency dentist directly where possible, they’re better equipped for tooth-specific treatment. Go to A&E if there’s a suspected broken jaw, uncontrolled bleeding, or facial swelling affecting breathing or swallowing.
Can I put aspirin directly on a painful tooth or gum? No. This is a common myth that can actually cause a chemical burn to the gum tissue. Take pain relief as directed on the packaging instead, and contact your dentist for the underlying cause.
What should I do if I lose a crown or filling? Keep the piece if you have it and avoid chewing on that side. Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can offer short-term protection, but you should still see a dentist promptly, since the exposed tooth underneath is vulnerable in the meantime.
Where can I find an emergency dentist in Northampton? Cliftonville Dental offers same-day emergency appointments wherever possible at 65 The Avenue, Cliftonville, Northampton NN1 5BT. Call us on 01604 604545 and our team will advise you on the next step.
What should I do if I have a dental emergency when the practice is closed? If the practice is closed, call NHS 111 for urgent dental advice. Go to A&E if you have facial swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding or a suspected broken jaw.
Facing a dental emergency right now?
Don’t wait and hope it settles on its own, especially with a knocked-out tooth, significant bleeding, or an abscess. Fast action genuinely changes the outcome.
Contact our emergency dentist team or call 01604 604545 immediately. We’re a private dentist in Northampton open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm, plus one Saturday a month, for exactly these situations.
Written by Dr Anesh Patel
Dentist, B.D.S. M.F.G.D.P. (UK)
Co-owner of Cliftonville Dental, Dr Anesh Patel qualified from Kings College London in 1999 and has practised in Northampton ever since, with a special interest in cosmetic and implant dentistry.
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