How to Deal With a Potential Dental Emergency
While most dental issues will develop over the course of months or even years, sometimes an acute issue can occur where immediate care by a dentist or a physician will be required. If left untreated, these types of issues can cause permanent damage and even necessitate more extensive treatment down the road.
The following list will address some of the most common types of dental emergencies and ways to deal with them.
Toothache
If you have a severe toothache that won’t go away, start by giving your teeth a thorough brushing and flossing. Next, rinse with warm water to ensure any remaining food or residue has been removed.
Then, apply ice or a cold compress to the outside of your cheek over the area of the toothache. See your dentist as soon as possible to determine the cause of the toothache.
Food Stuck Between Teeth That Can’t Be Removed
If you have food stuck between your teeth, try to gently remove it using tooth floss. If you still cannot remove it, see your dentist. They will have special tools that will be able to remove the food safely. Food should never be left this way as it can cause excessive amounts of bacteria in your mouth which will lead to plaque and tooth decay.
Chipped or Broken Tooth
If you have chipped or broken tooth, if possible, try to collect any piece of the tooth that you can find. Rinse the broken pieces and your mouth with warm water. If you experience bleeding, apply a compress to the area until the bleeding subsides. Then, apply ice or a cold compress to the outside of your cheek over the area of the chipped/broken tooth. See your dentist as soon as possible. If you were able to find any of the pieces of broken tooth, bring these with you to the dentist.
Loose Tooth
If you notice one of your teeth has become loose, it’s important to see your dentist as soon as possible to determine what has caused the tooth to be loose. If the tooth is painful, apply ice or a compress to the outside of your cheek over the area of the tooth. Do not fiddle with the tooth in any way as this can cause it to become even looser or possibly fall out.
Tooth Completely Knocked Out
If a tooth is completely knocked out, you may be able to save the tooth by taking the following steps:
1. Holding the tooth by the crown (not the root), gently rinse it with warm water. Do not remove any fragments of tissue or root if still attached to the tooth.
2. Try to place the tooth back into the empty socket, ensuring it is facing the right way. Do not force it. If it will not go back into the socket, place it in a container of milk, or water with a bit of salt. This will help to preserve the root until you can get to the dentist.
3. See a dentist immediately. A tooth can be saved if it can be put back into the socket within approximately one hour of being knocked out. Otherwise, it may not be able to be put back in.
A Filling Falls Out
If you lose a dental filling or a piece of filling, try to cover it with something like chewing gum or wax until you can see the dentist. This will help protect the inner area of the tooth by keeping food and liquid out of the space where the filling was. If you experience pain, apply ice or a compress.
A Crown Falls Out
If one of your dental crowns falls out, put the crown in a safe place and see a dentist as soon as possible. If you’re not able to get an appointment right away, you can attempt to reattach the crown by using dental cement available at most drug stores. This will be a temporary measure until your dentist can properly reinstall the crown. Important – do NOT use crazy glue, super glue, or any other glue that is not specifically designated for use on dental work!
Abscess
If you have an abscess, you must seek the attention of a dentist or physician immediately. An abscess is a very bad infection that can cause permanent damage to your teeth and gums, and can spread to other parts of your body. As well, most abscesses will cause severe pain.
An Injury to Oral Soft Tissues
If you experience any type of injury to the soft tissues of your mouth (gums, lips, tongue etc.), take the
following steps:
1. Rinse your mouth with a mixture of water and salt. This saline will help to cleanse the area.
2. Apply pressure to the area if persistent bleeding occurs.
3. Apply ice or a compress to the outside of the cheek over the injury.
4. If bleeding doesn’t stop after twenty minutes of applying pressure, see your dentist or physician as soon as possible.
Infected Wisdom Teeth
If you feel that you are suffering from infected wisdom teeth, you should see your dentist as soon as possible. The symptoms of infection include swelling, bad breath, bad taste in your mouth, irritation of your gums, and problems fully opening your mouth. If left untreated, this infection (medically referred to as Pericoronitis) can cause damage to the surround teeth and gums, and spread infection to other parts of your body.Your dentist will likely start by prescribing a course of antibiotics. Then, most likely your dentist will recommend removal of the wisdom teeth to prevent future infections.
Unexplained Swelling
If you experience swelling that cannot be related back to one of the other types of dental emergencies as listed above, it’s best to see your dentist or physician as soon as possible. Apply ice or cold compresses to the area to try and reduce the swelling.
Summary
As you can see, there are many different types of dental emergencies that can occur with little or no warning. While none of these conditions are likely to prove life threatening, you should never ignore or disregard dental issues. At the very least, a dentist should be made aware of the issue you’ve experienced so they can provide advice on how to self-treat it at home.
If you believe you have a dental emergency, contact us anytime during normal business hours. Even if we are completely booked for the day, if you feel you need to see a dentist immediately, we will get you in our dental clinic immediately.
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