Tips for Handling Dental Emergencies

A dental emergency is an issue that requires immediate treatment to stop the pain, bleeding or save a natural tooth. Most dental issues are emergencies, but some can wait a few hours before you get to the dentist. In this blog, we will discuss dental emergencies in detail. Hopefully, the information will help you handle various emergencies right. Remember, how you handle an emergency can determine if you lose or save your natural tooth.

Common Dental Emergency Services

There are various dental emergencies, and your dentist can help you with any of the following:

Toothache

Depending on the severity of the toothache, it can be considered an emergency or not. Mild to moderate pain can be alleviated by painkillers, and you can wait a few hours before seeing the dentist. But if the pain is too severe or your baby is experiencing a toothache, you should visit an emergency dentist near you ASAP. We are here for you if you are looking for an emergency dentist in Frisco, TX.

Broken Tooth

Trauma can lead to a chipped or broken tooth. If your tooth is just chipped, you can wait to see the dentist for treatment. But if it is broken, you should visit the dentist right away, whether it is painful or not. Delaying treatment increases the risk of losing it to infections.

Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth is perhaps the worst dental emergency.

It requires you to do the right things and act fast. How fast you get to the dentist can determine if you will save your tooth or not.

Soft Tissue Injuries

If you bite your tongue, hurt your lips or gums, it might be considered a dental emergency if you can’t stop the bleeding. For soft tissue injuries, it is best to visit an ER near you for fast treatments without having to book an appointment.

What is Not a Dental Emergency?

There are some dental issues you can comfortably handle on your own and wait a few days before seeing a dentist. These include:

Objects Caught Between Your Teeth

How you handle this situation can determine if it will remain a minor problem or accelerate to an emergency. That said, you should never use sharp objects to remove the objects caught between teeth. You might end up hurting your gums, making it an emergency. Instead, brush and floss your teeth, and it will most probably remove the caught object. If flossing won’t get rid of it, visit the dentist the next day.

Lost Crown

If a crown falls off, use dental cement or toothpaste and put it back into position. If you can’t, put it in a safe place and visit the dentist. Never try to put it back using superglue.

Broken Wires

Persons undergoing orthodontic treatment are often faced with this problem, but the good thing is you can handle it on your own. Try and put the wire to its original position using the rubber side of a pencil. If that proves difficult, cover the broken wire with orthodontic wax. The wax is available in most chemists. Never cut the wire, though. You might end up swallowing it.

Handling Common Dental Emergencies

Here is how to handle various dental emergencies:

Knocked-Out Tooth

•  Pick the tooth by its crown and clean it with running water.
•  Try to put it back to its position and bite onto it.
•  If you can’t, put it in a glass of milk or saltwater.
• Carry it with you and get to the dentist as soon as possible

Cracked Tooth

• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
• Try ice-cold compress to alleviate pain and swelling.
• Take recommended painkillers as per the packaging.
• Contact your dentist and get to his office ASAP.

Toothache

• Clean the affected tooth with warm water
• Check for any food remains on the tooth and floss them out.
• Use the ice-cold compress method; it helps alleviate pain.
• Take painkillers as per the packaging.
• Get to the dentist ASAP if you are unable to manage the pain.