How to manage your dental issues at home

This guidance is to support you in helping managing minor symptoms at home, to reduce the risk of virus transmission to you and our staff.

Do have any of the symptoms below?

• Facial swelling affecting your vision, breathing or preventing your mouth opening more than 2 fingers width.
• Bleeding following an extraction that does not stop after 20 minutes of solid pressure with a gauze.
• Trauma causing loss of consciousness, double vision or vomiting.

If so, you need to go straight to A&E.

My tooth hurts!

Do have any of the symptoms below?

• Intra oral or slight facial swelling.
• Severely broken tooth, or tooth fallen out with pain.
• Toothache that is preventing you from sleeping and eating, combined with swelling or fever that is not manageable with painkillers.

We will evaluate cases individually. We may be able to prescribe you with antibiotics or analgesia. If absolutely necessary we can refer you to an Urgent Dental Care Centre – you cannot self refer.

I’ve got a dental issue!

Do you have any of below?

• Loose or lost crowns, bridges or veneers.
• Broken, rubbing or loose dentures.
• Bleeding gums.
• Broken, loose or lost fillings.
• Chipped teeth with no pain.
• Loose orthodontic wires

If so, you need to wait until we re open. However the following advice that may help!

Advice for non urgent care

Pain management

• Over the counter pain killers can help but take in accordance with the instruction in the packet.

Tooth sensitivity

• If you have extreme sensitivity to hot or cold, sensitive toothpaste can help. Rub toothpaste directly on the affected area and don’t rinse afterwards.
• Anaesthetic gel can also help ease pain.

Wisdom teeth pain

Most flare ups can be managed with good home care:

• Thorough cleaning (even if painful).
• Corsodyl mouthwash (max 1 week use).
• Soft diet.
• Warm salty mouthwash.
• Pain killers.

If you have difficulty swallowing or swelling in your cheek, you may need antibiotics. Call us or NHS 111.

Ulcers

Most ulcers heal within 7 10 days. To ease the pain try:

• Warm salty mouthwash.
• Difflam Benzydamine ) spray or mouthwash.
• Thorough cleaning (even if painful).
• Corsodyl mouthwash (max 1 week use).
• Soft diet.
• Pain killers.

Bleeding gums

• Bleeding from gums is not a dental emergency. Bleeding gums are usually due to gum disease, and will not stop until brushing improves.
• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes. Concentrate especially on the areas that are bleeding. Use floss or tepe brushes to clean between your teeth every day

Rubbing dentures

• Denture adhesives like Fixodent may help secure a loose denture. Sharp edges can be filed using an emery board.