What is the first aid for a dental emergency?
For a knocked-out adult tooth, hold it by the crown, rinse it briefly in milk and put it back or keep it in milk, then see a dentist within the hour. For a broken tooth, save the pieces in milk. Control bleeding with firm pressure on gauze, and use a cold compress for swelling. Swelling with fever or difficulty breathing needs hospital. Creative Arts in Dubai sees urgent cases daily, 10:00 to 20:00.
Who treats you here Dr. Duaa Ameen General Dentist · Dr. Julia General Dentist · Dr. Marina Antoniuk Dentist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
Hospital first, dentist second, if there is…
a head injury, loss of consciousness, vomiting or confusion after a fall or blow; facial swelling with fever or feeling unwell; difficulty breathing, swallowing or opening the mouth; swelling spreading towards the eye or down the neck; bleeding that does not slow after firm pressure; a jaw that may be broken or will not close; or a deep cut to the lip, tongue or face. Go to a hospital emergency department, or call 998 for an ambulance in the UAE.
What counts as a dental emergency, and how fast do you need help?
A quick triage guide for adults. Children's baby teeth are different; see the section on children below.
| Problem | First aid now | See a dentist |
|---|---|---|
| Adult tooth knocked out | Hold by the crown, rinse briefly in milk, saline or saliva, replant or store in milk | Immediately; ideally within 60 minutes |
| Tooth pushed out of position or loosened | Do not force it back; bite gently on a clean cloth to keep it still | The same day |
| Broken tooth with a pink or red spot, or severe pain | Save the pieces in milk; avoid cold air and drinks on the tooth | The same day |
| Facial or gum swelling | Cold compress wrapped in a cloth; stay upright; no heat | The same day; hospital if any red flag above |
| Bleeding after an extraction | Firm pressure on folded gauze for 20–30 minutes, sitting up | If it does not stop after two rounds of pressure, call the dentist or go to hospital |
| Small chip, no pain | Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or wax | Within a few days |
| Lost crown or filling | Keep the crown; keep the area clean; a temporary filling kit can help | Within a few days, sooner if painful |
| Toothache without swelling | Pain relief as directed on the pack; soft food | Within a day or two if it does not settle |
| Brace wire poking | Cover the end with orthodontic wax | Contact your orthodontist |
If you are not sure which row fits, or the problem is getting worse quickly, treat it as urgent.
What should you do if an adult tooth is knocked out?
A knocked-out permanent tooth is the most time-sensitive dental emergency, because the cells on its root begin to die once they dry out. International dental trauma guidelines and NHS advice agree on the steps:
- Find the tooth and pick it up by the white crown, never the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it for a few seconds in milk, saline or the person's saliva. Do not scrub it or use soap.
- Push it gently back into its socket the right way round, then bite on a clean cloth to hold it.
- If you cannot replant it, keep it in a small container of milk, or in saliva. Water is a poor last resort, but better than letting the tooth dry.
- Go to a dentist straight away.
Our page on a knocked-out tooth explains what the dentist does next, including splinting and follow-up.
What should you do for a broken, chipped or loosened tooth?
Broken or chipped tooth. Rinse the mouth with warm water and collect any pieces; a large fragment can sometimes be bonded back on, so keep it moist in milk or water. Press gauze on any bleeding and use a cold compress on the lip or cheek to limit swelling. If you can see a pink or red dot in the broken surface, the nerve is exposed and the tooth should be seen the same day. A small chip with no pain can wait a few days. Our page on a chipped or broken tooth covers the repair options.
Tooth pushed out of place or wobbly after a blow. Do not try to wiggle it or force it back. Bite gently on a clean cloth to keep it steady, eat nothing hard, and see a dentist the same day. The dentist can reposition it under local anaesthetic and splint it if needed, and an X-ray checks for a root fracture.
What can you do about a lost crown or filling?
A lost crown or filling is rarely urgent, but it is uncomfortable and the exposed tooth is more fragile. Keep the crown in a clean container and bring it to your appointment; it can often be re-cemented if it and the tooth underneath are intact. Do not glue it back with household adhesive, which can damage the tooth and make proper re-cementing impossible. Pharmacy temporary filling or crown cement can protect a sensitive tooth for a few days.
Our guides to a crown that has fallen off and a filling that has fallen out explain how to tell whether the tooth underneath is damaged, and what repair usually involves.
How do you manage swelling, toothache and bleeding?
Swelling. Hold a cold compress wrapped in a cloth on the cheek for about 15 minutes at a time. Do not use heat, which can draw an infection outwards, and do not squeeze a gum swelling. Facial swelling from a tooth needs a dentist the same day, and our page on a swollen face from a tooth infection explains which signs mean hospital now.
Toothache. Take an over-the-counter painkiller as directed on the pack, and ask a pharmacist which suits you if you take other medicines, are pregnant or are treating a child. Warm salt-water rinses can soothe the gum in adults. Never place an aspirin on the gum, as it burns the tissue. Our guide to toothache relief at home covers what helps and what does not.
Bleeding. After an extraction, sit upright and bite firmly on a folded pad of clean gauze over the socket for 20 to 30 minutes without checking. Repeat once if needed. Our guide to bleeding after tooth extraction explains what is normal. For a cut lip or tongue, press with clean gauze for 10 to 15 minutes; a gaping cut or bleeding that will not stop needs hospital.
Done the first aid and need to be seen? Our emergency dentist page explains how to reach us, what happens when you arrive and how urgent problems are prioritised.
Emergency dentist in DubaiWhat about braces, food stuck between teeth and other small problems?
- Poking brace wire or loose bracket: push a small ball of orthodontic wax over the sharp end after drying it with a tissue. Do not cut the wire yourself. Our page on braces emergencies explains what can wait for your next appointment.
- Something stuck between teeth: use dental floss gently, sliding it out sideways rather than snapping it. Never use a pin or knife. If it will not shift and the gum swells, see a dentist; our page on food stuck between teeth explains why it keeps happening.
- Jaw stuck open or out of place: do not force it. Support the jaw with a hand or a cloth and go to a hospital emergency department.
Is dental first aid different for children?
Yes, in one important way: a knocked-out baby tooth must never be put back, because replanting it can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Keep the tooth to show the dentist, press clean gauze on any bleeding and bring the child in to check the area and the other teeth. For adult teeth in children, the steps above apply exactly. Our guide on when a child knocks out or damages a tooth explains how to tell baby teeth from adult teeth and what to watch for afterwards. Any fall with a head injury, drowsiness or vomiting needs a hospital first.
What should a home dental first aid kit contain?
Most of this fits in a small pouch next to your family first aid kit or in a travel bag.
| Item | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Sterile gauze pads | Pressure on bleeding, holding a replanted tooth, cleaning a wound |
| Small container with a lid | Carrying a knocked-out tooth or broken pieces in milk or saliva |
| Sterile saline or tooth-preservation solution | Rinsing and storing a tooth when milk is not available |
| Disposable gloves | Handling a tooth or a wound hygienically |
| Orthodontic wax | Covering sharp wires, brackets or a jagged tooth edge |
| Temporary filling or crown cement from a pharmacy | Protecting a tooth after a lost filling or crown, for a few days only |
| Instant cold pack | Reducing swelling after a blow |
| Pain relief suitable for each family member | Use as directed on the pack or by a pharmacist |
| Dental floss and a small torch | Removing trapped food and looking at the injury |
| A card with your dentist's number and hours | Creative Arts: +971 4 342 4444, WhatsApp +971 56 677 7537, open daily 10:00–20:00 |
Check expiry dates once a year, and keep a kit in the car or a travel bag if your family plays contact sports.