Understanding Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies are any dental problems that require urgent treatment to prevent permanent tooth loss, stop the pain and stop bleeding. While not all dental issues are an urgent concern, dental emergencies can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Worst even, they can potentially lead to long-term complications. As such, it is important to know when to seek a dentist right away, and when to wait until your scheduled appointment.
Common Dental Emergencies
Are you having problems deciding whether your concern can be considered a dental emergency? Dental emergencies are pretty common and can range from;
Toothaches
A toothache is any pain in or around your tooth. Minor toothaches can occur due to mild gum irritation, while severe aches result from infections, cavities, gum disease, or injuries. Even though specific toothache symptoms may vary, you may experience:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headaches
- Gum swelling
- Sharp, throbbing tooth pain
- Teeth sensitivity
Knocked-Out Tooth
A tooth may completely dislodge from its socket following accidents, injuries or assault. Some of the symptoms of a knocked-out tooth include a gap in the gum where the tooth used to be, bleeding and pain in the mouth.
Chipped or Cracked Tooth
Teeth can be subject to unintended damage requiring treatment. Chipping or cracking of teeth may occur due to biting hard objects, tooth decay, large fillings, aging, tooth grinding and physical trauma. Some of the symptoms a chipped or cracked tooth may present include:
- tooth sensitivity while eating sweet food or due to temperature changes
- Pain that comes and goes while chewing
- Toothache while biting or chewing
- Gum swelling around the tooth
Lost Filling or Crown
Tooth fillings or crowns can fall off, leaving your gum exposed. This can heighten tooth decay and mouth odor. Moreover, you risk tooth sensitivity, infection and tooth extraction.
Abscessed Tooth
An abscessed tooth has a swollen pimple-like infection around the root. Severe cavities, broken or chipped teeth, tooth injury or periodontitis are some of the common causes of tooth abscess. Symptoms of an abscessed tooth range from sensitivity, bad breath, gnawing pain, gum redness and a bitter taste in the mouth.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Injuries to tissues such as cheeks, lips, gums, and tongue can result from falls, sports accidents or unconsciously biting down too hard. Symptoms associated with soft tissue injuries can include excruciating pain, tissue flaps, cuts on lips, and lacerations.
Fast Action Steps for Dental Emergencies
The visit to the doctor may feel like miles away, especially when in pain. You can try these fast action steps to ease the pain as you prepare for your dental emergency appointment.
Toothache Relief
For sudden toothaches, rinse your mouth with warm water and floss off potential debris. You can also use over-the-counter pain medications but, avoid using aspirin directly on the gum. It causes burns.
Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth
If you have a knocked-out tooth, you need prompt dentist attention. However, before you get there, it is important to keep the tooth moist by placing it in a jar containing milk. If you have access to a drugstore, you can get a tooth preservation kit for better chances of saving the tooth.
Temporary Solutions for Chipped or Cracked Teeth
Most people can ignore a chipped or cracked tooth. However, urgent treatment may help save a tooth or prevent infections. Before you get to your dentist, rinse your mouth with warm water and assess for any rough edges, temperature sensitivity and pain. If you received a punch on the face, try cold compresses to help reduce inflammation.
Handling Lost Fillings or Crowns
You can temporarily reattach a dislodged crown using dental cement from a drugstore. Moreover, if you lose your dental filling, you can use dental wax to seal the gap as you wait to see your dentist.
Managing Abscessed Teeth
Abscesses are serious conditions and when left untreated, the infection could spread to your jaw or face. As such, urgent dental care is required. However, to ease the pain and ward off bad breath that could occur due to puss accumulation, rinse your mouth with a solution of salty, warm water.
First Aid for Soft Tissue Injuries
As you wait to see your doctor, rinse your mouth several times with a solution of salt water or antiseptic mouthwash. If the bleeding persists, directly apply 10-15 minutes of pressure on the affected area using a clean gauze or piece of cloth.
Preventive Measures for Dental Emergencies
Many dental emergencies are painful and require prompt care to alleviate the pain. However, you can prevent the situation from getting worse by:
Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene
Keeping up with a good oral hygiene routine is important in maintaining healthy gums and teeth. As such, ensure that you floss and brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Regular Dental Check-ups
Timely dental check-ups help identify and address any mouth condition before it aggravates. As such, ensure you don’t miss your dental visits if you want to keep your crowns and fillings intact.
Avoiding Harmful Habits
Tooth-destructive habits are way more common and may happen unconsciously as we go about our days. Habits such as chewing on hard foods such as ice, hard candy and popcorn kernels can crack or chip your teeth.
Seeking Professional Help
If you have nagging toothaches, abscessed teeth and infected jaw and gums, do not hesitate to seek professional help. Delayed treatment may cause the emergence of other underlying conditions, which earlier intervention measures could help curb.
Contacting Victory Plaza Dental for Emergency Dentistry
Dental emergencies can cause havoc in your life. However, having a reliable and professional dental team like Victory Plaza Dental by your side eases all your worries. We have a dedicated team of dental experts committed to providing top-tier dental emergency care. For any dental-related crisis, do not hesitate to reach out to book an appointment.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
It is advisable to seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing severe pain, uncontrolled bleeding and broken facial or jaw bones. Timely treatment saves you from tooth extraction and the spread of infection.
Conclusion
Dental emergencies can be a frightening ordeal, and you may wonder if you will ever recuperate or regain your dental function. However, knowing how to handle a dental emergency can save you a long way in maintaining the integrity of your mouth. Moreover, practicing good oral hygiene, frequent dental check-ups and safe dental habits will safeguard your teeth and prevent dental emergencies. Dental emergencies are not a death sentence; contact Victory Plaza Dental for any personalized dental care services.