You may have a dental emergency when you never expect it. It is the case whether it is when you suddenly develop a toothache, when you knock one of your teeth out of your mouth, or when infection occurs with severe pain, which you never expected or thought could happen to you, especially since you have well taken care of your dental health. We at Jarrell Dental Care appreciate how stressful some dental emergencies can be to our patients, and it is in light of this consideration that we provide guidance when these sudden situations occur in your life.
Some of the step-by-step procedures that should be taken in managing some common dental emergencies and knowing when to seek professional assistance are as follows:
6 Common Dental Emergencies and How to Deal With Them
1. Severe Toothache
A toothache is more than just a pain in the mouth; it may vary from minor discomfort to severe aching. It is primarily an indication that something more serious is wrong, such as an infection, cavity, or gum disease.
What to do:
- Rinse with warm salt water: This reduces swelling and cleanses the infected area.
- Use over the counter pain killers: Nonprescription drugs such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be helpful to curb the pain. Ensure one reads the guidelines in the prescriptions.
- Avoid hot, cold, and sugary food: The patient should not allow the sensitivity of their tooth to aggravate the pain as that worsens the discomfort; a visit to a dentist soon is recommended in this situation.
- Use of cold compressor: If the tooth does swell, it would benefit from the usage of an ice pack or cold pack on the side of the jaw to reduce inflammation.
When to see a dentist:
- In case the pain does not subside after a day or even gets worse, or if you feel swelling of your gums and/or your face, then you can contact Jarrell Dental Care at the earliest. This might be an infection already and could call for early intervention.
2. Avulsed Tooth
A knocked out-tooth is perhaps one of the most terrifying dental emergencies yet actions taken immediately save this one.
What to do is:
- Stay calm and quickly act: The speedier you are, before landing at a dentist, the stronger be the chances to save it back.
- Pick out carefully: Take out tooth but hold it from that point where the crown goes whereas the root has no interaction.
- Rinse the tooth gently: Use clean water to remove the dirt. Do not scrub nor use soap.
- Replace the tooth if possible: If it is possible, put the tooth back into its socket. Gently bite down on a clean cloth or gauze to hold it in place.
- Keep the tooth moist: If you cannot replace the tooth in the mouth, place it in a cup of milk, saline solution, or the patient’s saliva. Do not use water.
When to call the dentist:
- For the best probability of reimplantation, seek a dentist within 30 minutes to an hour after the injury. If that’s outside of regular business hours, go to the emergency room or find an after-hours emergency dental provider in your community.
3. Chipped or Broken Tooth
- A chipped or broken tooth: may be painful and unsightly, but it can cause more damage if left alone.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water: This helps clean the area and decreases the chances of infection.
- Use a cold compress: Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to decrease swelling and numb the pain.
- Save any fragments of the tooth: If the tooth breaks off, save the fragments and bring them along with you to the dentist.
- Cover the sharp edges: If the broken tooth has a sharp edge that might cut into your gums or tongue, you can cover it with dental wax, a cotton ball, or sugarless gum until you can see your dentist.
When to call the dentist:
- You should consult your dentist immediately if the break is severe, painful, or you can see the inner pulp of the tooth. These conditions are susceptible to infection, and the treatment your dentist may advise on the severity will include dental filling, crown, or root canal.
4. Lost Filling or Crown
The most common dental problem you will experience is the loss of a filling or crown that leaves the sensitive part of your tooth exposed, and you may experience pain or discomfort.
What to do:
- Temporarily seal the area: If the filling or crown has fallen out, you can temporarily cover the exposed tooth with dental cement available at most drugstores until you can see your dentist.
- Chew on the opposite side: Chew on the opposite side in order not to irritate or damage the affected tooth or area further.
- Represent yourself with the lost filling or crown: If you still have the lost filling or crown, bring it to the appointment since your dentist may re-cement it.
- If you have a lost filling or crown, call your dentist right away: It is not an urgent situation, but the more quickly you get it repaired, the less likely your tooth will sustain further damage or infection.
5. Abscess or Gum Infection
An abscess is an acute, painful, and fluid-filled pocket that occurs next to the root of a tooth as a result of bacterial infection. If left untreated, it may lead to spread of the infection and even cause severe complications.
What to do:
- Rinse with warm salt water to clean the area and alleviate swelling.
- Take over-the-counter pain medication to help relieve the pain until you can visit your dentist.
- Cold compress application: Applying a cold compress externally to the outside of your cheek can reduce pain and swelling.
When to Call Your Dentist:
- Such an abscess is such a severe dental emergency. You will need to make a phone call to your dentist as soon as possible. If the abscess induces fever or swelling in your face or neck, you should go to your local urgent care center or the emergency room there if your dentist cannot visit you at the earliest convenient time for you.
6. Something Is Stuck Between Your Teeth
Now and again something becomes stuck between your teeth and may be causing some pain or be annoying for you.
What to do:
- Try flossing: Be delicate while using dental floss. If you are pushing and pushing, don’t press deeper into your gums Interdental brush for further extraction.
- Do not employ a pointed object, a tool or object with a pointed side of the edges to ensure your gums won’t suffer and be punctured on by the use of attempting removal of the stuck article through the mouth and include, but are not limited to, toothpicks.
When to call your dentist:
- You would require a visit to a dentist if you cannot use floss or an interdental brush to remove the object, or if it’s giving you sharp pains or swelling.
Prevention of Dental Emergencies
All dental emergencies cannot be prevented; however, the risk can be reduced by preventing it. Minimizing the risk by preventive measures can be as follows:
- Wear a mouthguard during all your sports and other activities which might cause an injury.
- Avoid breaking and chipping of your teeth by crunching on hard items such as ice and hard candy
- Be responsible with hygiene, brushing your teeth and interdental spaces regularly.
- Maintain proper dental practice, for those that are subject to frequent decay, make use of applications such as sealants, or treatments using fluoride for example
Dental emergencies can be scary; however, being aware of what to do in case of such an occurrence can be a relief since it minimizes the agony and other damages that may have been brought about to your teeth and gums. At Jarrell Dental Care, we are always here for you when you need us the most. Call us for any dental emergency. Our team is committed to giving you the care and support you need to get back to smiling comfortably as soon as possible.