Top 10 Dental Emergencies and What to Do

How this list is ordered

The situations are ordered roughly from the most time-critical to the least, based on how NHS guidance describes urgency, with those that need immediate help or risk losing a tooth first. This is an editorial ordering, and it is not triage, because your own situation may differ. The steps given are general first aid drawn from NHS advice and are not a replacement for professional care. If you are worried, if you feel very unwell, or if the problem is getting worse, seek professional help straight away. Guidance can change, so check the NHS website or call NHS 111 for current advice.

How to get emergency dental help in the UK

If you have a regular dentist, call them first, because many practices keep emergency slots, and their answerphone may give an out-of-hours number. If you cannot reach a dentist, call NHS 111, which can direct you to urgent dental care in your area. In England, urgent NHS dental care is charged at a fixed band, and in other nations arrangements and charges differ, so ask. Go to A&E, or call 999, for facial swelling that affects swallowing or breathing, bleeding that will not stop, a serious injury to the head, face or jaw, or if you feel very unwell. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint.

1. A knocked-out adult tooth

A permanent tooth that has been knocked out may be saved if it is treated quickly. NHS advice is to pick the tooth up by the crown, the white part, not the root, and if it is dirty to rinse it briefly in milk or, if no milk is available, saliva. If you can, put it back gently into the socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it, and then get to a dentist urgently, ideally within the hour. If it cannot be put back, keep it moist in milk and take it with you. Do not scrub it, let it dry out or store it in water. A baby tooth should not be put back. Watch out for a head injury, loss of consciousness or vomiting, which need emergency care.

2. Facial swelling that spreads or affects breathing

Swelling of the face, jaw or neck, especially with fever, difficulty opening the mouth, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or feeling very unwell, can be a sign of a serious infection that needs emergency treatment. It can develop from a dental abscess. Call 999 or go to A&E if swallowing or breathing is affected, and do not wait for an appointment. Sit upright, do not put heat on the swelling, and tell staff about any dental problem. For swelling without breathing problems, contact a dentist or NHS 111 urgently the same day. Watch out for swelling that is getting worse quickly, a high temperature, a stiff jaw and a swollen tongue or floor of the mouth.

3. A dental abscess

An abscess is a collection of pus caused by infection, usually from a decayed tooth or the gum. It can cause throbbing pain, a bad taste, a swelling or pimple on the gum, a tender tooth and sometimes fever. The NHS advises seeing a dentist urgently, as an abscess will not go away by itself and can spread. Meanwhile, take painkillers by mouth as directed on the pack if they are suitable for you, rinse gently with warm salt water, and avoid very hot and cold drinks. Do not try to burst it or put anything on the gum. Seek emergency help if swelling spreads or you have trouble breathing or swallowing. A dentist may drain the abscess, prescribe antibiotics where needed and treat the cause.

4. Severe toothache

Severe toothache often points to decay reaching the nerve, a cracked tooth or an infection. The NHS suggests taking painkillers by mouth as directed, if they are suitable for you, avoiding very hot, cold or sweet food on that side, and seeing a dentist as soon as possible. Do not put aspirin or other tablets on the gum, which can burn it, and do not give aspirin to children under 16. Clove oil is sometimes used for brief relief but does not treat the cause. Pain that wakes you, throbs, or comes with swelling or fever needs prompt attention. Watch out for toothache that disappears suddenly, which can mean the nerve has died and the infection is continuing.

5. A broken or chipped tooth

A small chip may not hurt, but a larger break can expose the nerve, cause pain with hot, cold and biting and leave a sharp edge that cuts the tongue or cheek. Rinse your mouth with warm water, save any piece you can find in milk, and see a dentist the same day if there is pain, bleeding or a sharp edge. For a rough edge, a piece of sugar-free chewing gum or dental wax can protect the mouth temporarily. Avoid biting on the tooth. A dentist can bond, rebuild or crown it. Watch out for a tooth that has also been loosened or pushed out of position, a broken jaw and any head injury, which need urgent assessment.

6. A lost filling or crown

A lost filling or crown is not usually an emergency, but the exposed tooth can be sensitive and may decay or break further. Keep the area clean, avoid chewing on that side and avoid very hot or cold food. Temporary dental cement is sold in pharmacies and can be used for a few days as directed, but do not use household glue. If a crown has come off, keep it safely and bring it to the dentist, who may be able to refit it. See a dentist within a few days, and sooner if there is pain or swelling. Watch out for swallowing or inhaling a loose crown, and for leaving the tooth unprotected for weeks.

7. Bleeding after an extraction

Some oozing is normal for the first day after a tooth is removed. If bleeding continues, the NHS advises biting firmly on a clean piece of gauze or a clean cloth for about twenty minutes without checking too often, sitting upright and avoiding rinsing, hot drinks, alcohol and smoking for the first day, because they can disturb the clot. Pain a few days after extraction, with a bad taste, can be a dry socket, which a dentist can treat. Contact the dentist or NHS 111 if bleeding does not stop after repeated pressure, and go to A&E if bleeding is heavy or you feel faint. Take care not to swallow blood-soaked material.

8. A cut or bitten lip, tongue or cheek

The mouth heals well, but cuts can bleed a lot. Rinse gently with water, press on the cut with clean gauze or cloth for several minutes, and apply a cold compress outside the mouth to reduce swelling. Most small cuts heal on their own. Go to A&E if the cut is deep, gaping, goes through the lip, bleeds heavily for more than around ten minutes of pressure, or if there is a possible embedded tooth fragment or object. A cut on the tongue that is large or bleeding heavily also needs medical attention. Watch out for cuts caused by a poking wire from braces, which can be covered with wax and checked by an orthodontist.

9. A jaw injury or dislocated jaw

A blow to the jaw can cause pain, swelling, bruising, trouble opening or closing the mouth, a bite that feels wrong, numbness of the lip or chin, or loose teeth. These can be signs of a fracture or dislocation. Support the jaw gently with your hand or a bandage, avoid forcing it open or shut, do not eat, and go to A&E. Call 999 for a serious injury, signs of a head injury or if breathing is affected. Watch out for jaw locking after a yawn, which needs medical attention, and any bleeding from the ears. Do not try to put a jaw back yourself.

10. Something stuck between the teeth

Food stuck between the teeth is common, and most can be removed gently with floss or an interdental brush. Do not use sharp objects such as pins or knives, which can injure the gums or damage the teeth. If an object cannot be removed, or the gum is sore and swollen afterwards, see a dentist. Foods that commonly stick include meat fibres, seeds and popcorn husks. Regular trapping in the same place may mean a gap, a cavity or a failing filling that a dentist should check. Watch out for pain, swelling or a bad taste that develops, and for bleeding that does not settle.

What to keep in a dental first-aid kit

A small kit at home can help in a dental emergency: a small container with a lid for a tooth, long-life milk, clean gauze, painkillers suitable for your household, temporary dental cement, dental wax, interdental brushes or floss, a cold pack and the number of your dentist and NHS 111. If you wear braces, add orthodontic wax and ask your orthodontist what else to include. Check expiry dates once a year. Having these items to hand helps you to act calmly, and the phone numbers saved in your mobile save time.

Emergencies when you wear braces or aligners

Most problems with braces, such as a loose bracket or a poking wire, are uncomfortable but not emergencies, and wax can ease them until you reach your orthodontist. A knock to the mouth is different, because teeth with brackets can be injured and brackets can cut the lips. Follow the same first-aid steps as above and tell the clinician about your braces. Our orthodontic emergency guides explain what counts as urgent and what can wait. Carry your practice's number, and remember that a mouthguard recommended by your orthodontist can reduce the risk during sport.

Children and dental emergencies

Children are more likely to have falls and knocks, and the first-aid steps differ in some ways. A knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back, but a knocked-out permanent tooth in a child should be handled like an adult tooth, picked up by the crown, kept moist in milk and taken to a dentist urgently. Comfort and reassure the child, check for signs of a head injury such as drowsiness, vomiting, confusion or a severe headache, and seek emergency care if any occur. Do not give aspirin to children under 16. A school or sports club first-aid kit with milk and a small container is a good idea. Tell the dentist when and how the injury happened.

After the emergency

Once the immediate problem is dealt with, follow the dentist's advice on aftercare, take any prescribed medicines as directed and attend follow-up appointments. Injured teeth may darken, become loose or develop an infection weeks or months later, so tell the dentist if you notice any change. A tooth that has been put back may need a splint and monitoring. If you were treated by an out-of-hours service, arrange a visit with your regular dentist to complete treatment. Keep any written advice, and note the date of the injury, which helps if future treatment, including orthodontics, is needed.

Costs and getting urgent care

In England, urgent NHS dental treatment is charged at a set band, and different charges and rules apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with exemptions for some groups, including children and certain benefits. NHS 111 can tell you where to go and what to expect. Private emergency appointments are charged by the practice, so ask for the price before treatment where possible, though never delay care for a genuine emergency because of cost. Keep receipts and ask for a treatment note. If you cannot afford treatment, tell the practice, and ask about payment options.

Preventing dental emergencies

Many emergencies can be avoided. Attend regular check-ups so that decay and cracks are found early, wear a properly fitted mouthguard for contact sports, avoid chewing ice and hard sweets, do not use teeth as tools, treat toothache early, and replace worn fillings and crowns. If you grind your teeth, ask about a night guard. People with braces should avoid very hard and sticky foods. A calm plan and a saved number for a dentist and for NHS 111 mean that you can respond quickly if something does go wrong.

Key takeaways

For a knocked-out adult tooth, act fast and see a dentist within the hour. For spreading swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a serious injury, call 999 or go to A&E. For most other problems, contact your dentist or NHS 111 and use simple first-aid steps in the meantime. Never put tablets on the gum or use household glue. This is general information, not personal medical advice, so follow current NHS guidance and seek professional help.

Useful related pages

This guide is for general information only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for advice from a registered dentist or orthodontist.