5 Common Dental Emergencies
What do you do when you fall and injure your tooth? Damaging or cracking your tooth can be pretty painful, and the best thing you should do is look for an emergency dentist near you so that they can alleviate the pain and help save your tooth. This piece will list and explain some of the most common dental emergencies and what to do during such instances. So let’s get into it.
Cracked or Chipped Teeth
You can have a cracked or chipped tooth due to various reasons. First is when you bite down on something hard, leading to a crack forming on your tooth. The second is falling and injuring your tooth. The crack might have some pain that does not subside even after taking a painkiller. Dr. Jay Wickersham recommends rinsing your mouth with warm water and covering the bleeding area with gauze.
Another thing you can do before looking for emergency dental care is to apply a cold compress on the side where you have the chipped tooth. The good thing about a cold compress is that it reduces swelling and pain.
After you meet up with the dentist in Palm Harbor, they will advise you to avoid eating hard and crunchy foods and wear a sports mouthguard if you frequently engage in contact sports. A mouthguard will protect your teeth against tooth trauma.
Soft Tissue Damage
Examples of soft tissues in your oral cavity include the gums, tongue, lips, and the inside of your cheeks. Trauma is the leading cause of soft tissue injury. Therefore, looking for a dental office near you is essential so the emergency dentist can treat the lacerations, tears, and punctures. If the wounds on your soft tissues are not treated as soon as possible, there is a risk of infection, which can spread to other areas of your oral cavity.
Before looking for emergency dental care, you can rinse your mouth with warm water. After doing so, apply a cold compress on the bleeding area, reducing blood oozing and preventing swelling.
Toothache
Have you ever experienced pain in your tooth out of nowhere? Did the pain go away after taking some over-the-counter painkillers? The pain can be an indication of tooth decay. It is essential to know that not every toothache is an emergency. However, you should seek immediate dental care when the pain does not subside.
When faced with pain in your tooth, it would be best to stay away from taking painkillers. This is because taking painkillers will mask the cause of the pain, which might lead to tooth loss, especially if the cause is tooth decay.
After seeking emergency care, the dentist will tell you how proper oral hygiene is essential to keep tooth decay at bay. In addition, the dentist will advise you to schedule dental visits at Palm Harbor Smiles so that the dentist can monitor your oral health.
Loose or Knocked-Out Teeth
Accidents can lead to losing your tooth due to the impact. When this happens, it would be best to pick up your tooth and rinse it if there is any dirt. Be sure to pick up the tooth by the crown.
In addition, don’t scrub the tooth with a brush, as this can damage the tissues or nerve endings. If the injury is not severe, you can put the tooth in its place but don’t use much force. It is crucial to know the chances of saving your tooth depend on how quickly you can put the tooth in its place.
If you cannot put the tooth back in its place, put the knocked-out tooth in a small cup of water or milk and add a little salt. Doing so will help preserve the tooth as you look for an emergency dentist.
Lost Dental Restoration
As the name indicates, dental restorations are used to restore missing or damaged teeth. When a dental restorative procedure is done, you can chew, speak or smile better. Examples of dental restorative devices used include dental crowns and fillings.
However, dental restoration devices can be broken or fall from your mouth. When this happens, it is essential that you look for emergency dental services. Failure to do so can leave your teeth vulnerable to trauma and reinfection.
