Dental Emergencies
What to Do During A Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency can happen at any time. Trauma to the mouth, for instance, can cause bleeding to the gums. This may need immediate attention from your dentist. Day or night, an accident can happen. Although there are dental injuries that do not require immediate treatment, there are some that cannot wait until your dentist’s clinic hours.
Cracked, broken, and knocked-out teeth are common types of mouth injuries considered to be dental emergencies. These injuries can arise as a result of eating hard foods or engaging in extreme sports. But injuries may vary. Some injuries are not extreme enough that they can wait for a call to your dentist during his/her clinic’s business hours. Then again, if the injury involves a large piece of your tooth or your tooth is knocked out completely, immediate dental attention is required.
Knocked Out
Whether it is a sports-related injury or not, if your tooth has been knocked out, dentists recommend putting it back into its socket. Then, bite down on a moistened wet tea bag. Do not swallow your tooth. Afterward, immediately go to the emergency room to seek dental treatment for your knocked-out tooth. However, if you cannot get your tooth to stay in the socket while you are on your way to your dentist, rinse it off to get rid of dirt. Keep it in a container filled with milk or your saliva. Apply a cold compress to the affected area to prevent your gums from bleeding severely.
Tooth Pain
Another type of dental emergency is tooth pain. If you cannot bear the pain, call your dentist’s office. You may be able to book an appointment the next day. Some dentists do leave some slots in their busy schedule open for dental emergencies. Even if you know that your dentist’s clinic is closed, you still have to call. However, if you cannot reach your dentist, you should go to the nearest hospital in your area. The nurse or some staff there can determine whether or not you need immediate dental attention. They can also provide you with pain medication to further relieve your symptoms while waiting for you to see your dentist. Not sure if your case is indeed a dental emergency? If it hurts, it is considered a dental emergency.
Applying quick treatment can improve the odds that your tooth can still be saved from injury or damage. Obvious damage to your tooth must always be considered a dental emergency and quick treatment is needed. Chips, for instance, can negatively impact the living tissue of your tooth. If they are not resolved immediately, they can cause more problems in the future. When you seek immediate treatment, this can be prevented from getting worse. This is also the same if you lose a filling or a crown. It is considered a dental emergency. Even if you do not feel any symptoms, your tooth has already lost its support. It needs to be treated as soon as possible as it could be easily damaged.
Preventing Dental Emergencies
Accidents can happen at any time. However, you can prevent dental emergencies and reducing your risk of damaging your teeth by using or wearing a mouthguard. This is especially true if you are participating in recreational activities that may pose a great risk of getting your teeth injured. It is important not to chew ice, popcorn kernels, and other hard items as they can easily crack your tooth. You can also lower your risk of any dental emergency by taking care of your dental health. You should limit your sugar intake as sugars can weaken tooth enamel. You should also use fluoride-rich toothpaste when brushing your pearly whites.
Do it at least twice a day. Then, floss at least once or twice a day. It is also essential that you visit your dentist regularly. Twice a year is highly recommended. But if you have a medical condition, you may need frequent dental visits. Tell your kids about the importance of daily brushing and flossing. And if they play contact sports, advise them to wear a helmet, mouth guard, or face mask to further prevent dental emergencies. An untreated injury can cause extreme damage to your teeth. Contact your dentist immediately if you do need dental emergencies.