Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere. The teeth and gums are particularly susceptible to injury from head accidents. Teeth and gum injuries can be pretty serious and can worsen if you do something reckless. Some people simply ignore such injuries but that's just as bad. Although the best solution is to immediately visit your dentist, there are some additional steps you could try to control the situation. Here are some of the more common injuries to the gums and teeth:

Knocked-out teeth - This is probably the most commonly seen tooth injury especially in boxing or other martial arts. A knocked-out tooth happens when a whole tooth, including the root, gets forcibly detached from the gum tissue that supports it. When this situation occurs, immediately try to recover the knocked-out tooth and hold it by the crown. Rinse the tooth with water and avoid removing any tissue fragments attached to the tooth since it's important when putting the tooth back in place. If you are going to try and reattach the tooth, make sure you put it in the exact position that it was in before it got knocked out. Remember not to force it in as it could make the situation even worse. If you can't do so at the moment, get a glass of water mixed with a pinch of table salt or a glass of milk and put the tooth in there. Visit a dentist immediately. The earlier you can have it checked by a dentist, the better the chances of saving the tooth.

Displaced Teeth - After a heavy blow to the face or jaw, there are times that the tooth doesn't get knocked out but instead gets partially dislodged. Do not try to move the tooth or apply pressure on it to prevent any additional injury. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth around the affected area and go see a dentist immediately. Take some over-the-counter painkillers, if the pain becomes unbearable.

Broken Teeth - Like bones, teeth can also get broken. Instead of being dislodged or knocked-out completely, the crown may be forcibly detached from the root and fall off. If this happens, get a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth with it. Look for the broken pieces and save every piece of teeth that you find. Apply cold compress on the outside of the area to prevent swelling and use gauze on any part of the mouth that is bleeding. Visit a Dayton emergency dentist right away.

Foreign Objects Between the Teeth - Though teeth have very small spaces between them, objects can still get caught between them. If you'd notice while eating meat, some strands actually get caught that you'll need to use a dental floss to take it out. In the same manner, if a foreign object gets caught between your teeth, use a dental floss to gently remove it. Never use a sharp object like a pin or knife to get it off. If you really can't remove it, have your Dayton family dentist check it for you.

Gum Injuries - Gum injuries, like teeth injuries, can be serious if not treated promptly. If your gums get injured, rinse your mouth with a glass of water mixed with a pinch of salt. Afterwards, apply pressure on the target area with a moist piece of cloth or gauze for 15 minutes to control the bleeding and immediately go to a dentist. If you happen to live in Ohio, immediately see an emergency dentist in Dayton, Ohio if the bleeding does not stop and continue applying pressure until you arrive.