Mouth and Dental Injuries-Check Your Symptoms

Mouth and Dental Injuries - Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

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If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

A head injury: Go to the topic Head Injury, Age 4 and Older or Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger.
Burn to the mouth: Go to the topic Burns.
A problem related to mouth piercing: Go to the topic Body Piercing Problems.
A problem caused by swallowing a piece of dental appliance: Go to the topic Swallowed Objects.


	Yes

Has your tooth been knocked out?


	Yes

Has your tooth come loose, moved, or been jammed into your gum after an injury?


	Yes

Do you have a cut, puncture, or tear in your lip, tongue, or the inside your mouth?


	Yes

Do you know or think an object is in a mouth wound?


	Yes

Do you know or think a mouth injury may have been caused by abuse?


	Yes

Did your tooth or dental appliance chip, crack, or break?


	Yes

Do you have pain after a mouth or dental injury?


	Yes

Do you have any signs of infection?


	Yes

Has a tooth changed color after an injury?


	Yes

Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot?


	Yes

Was your injury caused by grinding your teeth?


	Yes

Has a permanent tooth been completely knocked out?Note: If you are not able to contact your dentist, go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately. A permanent tooth may be put back in the socket (reimplanted) if it is knocked out or torn away from its socket. The best results occur if your tooth is put back in its socket by a dentist within 30 minutes. For information on how to transport the tooth, see first aid for a tooth that has been knocked out.


	Yes

Has your child's baby tooth been completely knocked out?Note: Your child needs to be checked by a dentist even if the child's tooth was getting ready to fall out soon.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Is a permanent tooth very loose?Note: Bite gently on a piece of gauze to keep the tooth in place until you can consult your dentist.


	Yes

Has a permanent tooth moved?


	Yes

Is a permanent tooth slightly loose?


	Yes

Does your child have a very loose baby tooth?


	Yes

Has your child's baby tooth moved or become jammed into the gum?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Has part of your tongue been completely cut off?Note: Be sure to follow first aid measures for proper transport of your tongue.


	Yes

Has the cut or puncture gone completely through your tongue?


	Yes

Does moderate to severe bleeding continue after you have applied direct pressure for 15 minutes?Note: Be sure to follow the instructions in first aid for a bleeding wound.


	Yes

Do you have a cut or puncture in the roof of your mouth or the back of your throat?


	Yes

Has the cut or puncture gone completely through your lip or cheek?


	Yes

Do you continue to have minor oozing of blood after applying pressure for 45 minutes?


	Yes

Is a cut, puncture, or tear deeper than and longer than ?


	Yes

Did a cut, puncture, or tear that is deeper than leave a flap?


	Yes

Does a cut, puncture, or tear that is deeper than gape open?


	Yes

Does a cut, puncture, or tear that is deeper than have jagged edges?


	Yes

Do you have a cut, puncture, or tear on the lip or edge of the lip and you are concerned about scarring?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you unable to remove an object from your mouth wound?


	Yes

Do you think you have an object in a mouth wound?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Was your mouth injury intentionally caused by another person?


	Yes

Do you think a mouth injury may have been caused by abuse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have bleeding from a permanent tooth?


	Yes

Do you have moderate to severe pain?


	Yes

Is a permanent tooth sensitive to heat, cold, air, or sweets?


	Yes

Are you unable to remove a tooth fragment stuck in a mouth wound?


	Yes

Are you unable to open or close your mouth normally?


	Yes

Are you unable to remove a piece of dental appliance stuck in a mouth wound?


	Yes

Does your child have a broken or cracked baby tooth?


	Yes

Are rough edges of a chipped or cracked tooth or dental appliance still irritating your mouth after 48 hours?


	Yes

Do you have a crack in a tooth that is not causing any symptoms?


	Yes

Do you have a chip in a tooth that is not causing any other symptoms?


	Yes

Has the surface of your tooth chipped from grinding your teeth?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have severe pain that has not improved after 2 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Is moderate pain getting worse?


	Yes

Do you have moderate to severe tooth sensitivity to heat, cold, air, or sweets?


	Yes

Do you have moderate pain that has not improved after 12 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Do you have mild pain that has not improved after 24 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Are rough edges of a tooth or dental appliance irritating your mouth?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around a mouth wound?


	Yes

Is the area around your mouth wound increasingly tender to the touch?


	Yes

Do you have pus in or around the mouth wound?


	Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around a mouth wound for 24 hours or longer?


	Yes

Have you had swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the jaw or neck or under the chin for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Has a permanent tooth changed color within 2 weeks of an injury?


	Yes

Has your child's baby tooth turned gray, black, or pink?


	Yes

Has a permanent tooth been discolored for weeks or months?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Were you cut by something clean and your last tetanus shot was longer than 10 years ago?Note: Something is clean if it does not have dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a broken water glass, a kitchen knife, or sewing scissors.


	Yes

Were you cut by something dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a garden tool, a dirty nail, or a piece of glass that has been buried in the dirt.


	Yes

Are you not sure if you were cut by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?


	Yes

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?


	Yes

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Has the surface of your tooth chipped?


	Yes

Are one or more of your teeth loose?


	Yes

Does your jaw or teeth hurt from grinding?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

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Only 18.5% of Americans never floss. You are missing out on a simple way to make a big difference in the health of your mouth. Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Floss removes food trapped between the teeth and removes the film of bacteria that forms there before it turns to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Try flossing just one tooth to get started.

You are one of 31% of Americans who don't floss daily. You are missing out on a simple way to make a big difference in the health of your mouth. Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Toothbrush bristles alone cannot clean effectively between these tight spaces. Flossing removes up to 80% of the film that hardens to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Aim for 3 more days!

You are one of 31% of Americans who don't floss daily, but you're well on your way to making a positive impact on your teeth and gums. Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Toothbrush bristles alone cannot clean effectively between these tight spaces. Flossing removes up to 80% of the film that hardens to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Aim for all 7 days!

Only 50.5% of Americans floss daily, and good for you that you are one of them! Regardless of how well you brush, plaque still forms between your teeth and along your gums. Toothbrush bristles alone cannot clean effectively between these tight spaces. Flossing removes up to 80% of the film that hardens to plaque, which can cause inflamed gums (gingivitis), cavities, and tooth loss. Congratulations on your good oral health habit!

SOURCES:

American Dental Association, Healthy People 2010

Today in Oral Care