Reasonable precautions should always be taken, of course, to prevent any type of dental injury. This is simply a matter of common sense, such as wearing a helmet and mouth guard during risky activities, avoiding biting down on popcorn kernels, and not using teeth in place of tools such as bottle openers.

Even with the best precautions, dental emergencies and accidents do still happen. Rarely do they happen when your dentist is at the scene. Therefore, knowing what to do when an emergency arises can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.

The American Dental Association and U.S. University Schools of Dental and Oral Surgery agree that you should take the following measures in case of:

Bitten Lip or Tongue
Remember that soft oral tissue injuries usually do not bleed a lot, but when they do, the injury can seem worse than it really is. When the blood mixes with saliva, it may look like you are bleeding more than you really are. Don