Dental problems like gum disease and cavities develop gradually as a result of months or years of dental-health neglect. But some dental problems like sensitivity and pain in your teeth appears suddenly. Such dental emergencies might need immediate attention. The problem is that majority of the people are not sure what to do when they are faced with these dental problems.
The following is a guide to some of the most common situations that are widely considered dental emergencies.
- When you bite your lip or tongue or any other delicate tissue in your mouth causing excessive bleeding, clean the area and use a cold compress to avoid swelling. In case the bleeding doesn’t stop, it is best to have it looked at the emergency room.
- If you have a broken or chipped tooth, you should call your dentist as soon as possible. Meanwhile, take some warm water and rinse your mouth before applying a cold compress on the affected area.
- If you have damaged braces, you should call your orthodontist immediately. In most cases, damaged braces need fixing right away. Otherwise, you can have it checked at your next dental visit.
- If you sustain a broken jaw, use a cold compress to the wounded area to decrease pain. Visit your dentist or take it to the emergency room as soon as possible.
- If you have a loose tooth, see your dentist as soon as possible. The sooner you go, the greater the chance of saving the the tooth. Meanwhile, a cold compress to the injured area will help relieve pain. If the pain is unbearable, take an over-the-counter pain killer.
- If you have a knocked-out tooth, see if the root is dirty. If so, rinse it carefully so that you don’t scrub any piece of tissue that may still be attached. Try to reinsert the tooth back into its socket. If that doesn’t work, see your dentist as soon as possible. According to experts, storing the tooth in milk help preserve the tooth until you get to the dentist.
- If you have any food particle lodged between your teeth, gently floss to remove remove them. If it is still stuck, call your dentist. Depending on the situation, your dentist might be able to tell you how to fix it.
- Swelling in mouth happens due to abscess, an collection of pus that can lead to serious systemic infection. If you have painful swelling in your mouth, make an appointment with your dentist. Meanwhile, rinse your mouth with saltwater to ease the pain and pressure.
- Pericoronitis is an inflammation around a partially protruding wisdom tooth. This may cause swelling and irritation on the gums, an unpleasant taste in your mouth, bad breath, inability to fully open your mouth. If you faces any of these symptoms, visit your dentist immediately.
- If you encounter sudden or severe toothache, use warm water to rinse your mouth. Gently floss the region around the aching tooth to ensure that there is no food particle stuck in between the teeth. If the ache does not fade away, call your dentist.
These are some of the commonly occurring dental emergencies and tips on how to deal with them. While most dental emergencies are easily treatable, some emergencies can cause severe infections and damage your oral health irrevocably, if not treated in time. If you’re still not sure what to do when such situations occur, always call your Flushing dentist. The sooner these dental problems are taken care of, the lesser are the chances of further dental-health complications.