As a temporary measure, stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity (sugar-filled gum will cause pain) or use an over-the-counter dental cement such as Dentemp or Temparin. These are available at most drug stores, Walmart and Target.

See your dentist as soon as possible.

Rinse your mouth with lukewarm water to clean the area. Gently use dental floss to remove any food trapped between your teeth. If your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek.

Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it will burn the gum tissue.

Abscesses are infections that occur around the root of a tooth or in the space between the teeth and gums. Abscesses are a serious condition that can damage tissue and surrounding teeth, with the infection possibly spreading to other parts of the body if left untreated.

The pain experienced with an abscess will generally subside once treated with the proper antibiotics, and may require additional procedures to prevent re-occurrence. If you discover a painful pimple-like swelling on your gum, try rinsing your mouth with a mild salt water solution (1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water) several times a day to ease the pain and draw the pus toward the surface.

Rinse the mouth using warm water. If there’s any bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. If needed to relieve swelling or pain, apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken/chipped tooth.

Retrieve the tooth, hold it by the crown (the part that is usually exposed in the mouth), and rinse off the tooth root with water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, try to put the tooth back in place. Make sure it’s facing the right way. Never force it into the socket.

If it’s not possible to reinsert the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk (or cup of water that contains a pinch of table salt, if milk is not available) or a product containing cell growth medium, such as Save-a-Tooth. In all cases, see your dentist as quickly as possible.

Knocked out teeth with the highest chances of being saved are those seen by the dentist and returned to their socket within 1 hour of being knocked out. (This tip does not apply to baby teeth.)