admin
Dec 15, 2023
Dental emergencies are uncalled-for events that can take you by surprise and put you in immense pain and despair. It can range from a toothache to a bleeding mouth because of an injury.
Every type requires medical attention and immediate treatment to prevent it from worsening. Most people do not know what to do when they are faced with a dental emergency, which often leads to delays in treatment and bigger problems.
Thus, knowing how to handle a dental emergency is vital to ensure you get first aid until you visit your dentist in Hope Island. It helps to keep permanent damage at bay and reduce pain for some time.
So, here is a list of the common dental emergencies and ways of dealing with them before getting examined by the dentist. It will give you confidence to act quickly in case of an urgent situation.
1. Tooth Falling Out of the Socket
One of the common dental emergencies is a tooth falling out after you tumble down the stairs or trip over something. An injury while playing a sport or an accident can also lead to the knocking out of one or more teeth.
This type of emergency is highly painful and traumatic and can blur the decision-making ability of the person. Therefore, it is vital to know that a knocked-out tooth should be picked up and rinsed under cold water for a few seconds to remove the dirt.
Ensure to hold the tooth from the top and avoid touching the root or scrubbing it to preserve the tissue that can help in fixing the tooth back into the socket. Dentist Hope Island recommend holding the tooth in the socket until you meet your practitioner.
If inserting it back and holding it there is not possible, keep the tooth in a container filled with milk. The dislodged tooth can be reattached if the patient visits the dentist within an hour of the emergency.
2. Intolerable Toothache
Another dental emergency is a toothache, which can make you cry in pain. It can be due to cavities or gum disease. If it is accompanied by swelling, you must not waste time and visit your dentist immediately.
To ease the pain, it is ideal to use a cold compress on the face for 20 minutes and then repeat after a break. It helps reduce the swelling. Another way to reduce discomfort is to do warm saline water rinses.
You can take an over-the-counter pain relief medication if the pain is unbearable and avoid eating solid foods.
3. Chipped, Broken or Cracked Tooth
If you notice a part of your tooth getting chipped or witness cracks on the surface, you must visit your Hope Island dentist immediately. Ensure to keep the broken piece safely in a glass container filled with milk after rinsing it gently.
If you are bleeding, you must place gauze or a clean towel on the affected area to stop the bleeding. Also, use a cold compress to alleviate pain and swelling. Place it on the face, but do not apply it for more than 20 minutes at a time. Get your appointment booked and start the treatment quickly.
4. Pain Due to Abscess or Infection
A tooth abscess is the occurrence of a pus bag near the root of the tooth or the gums due to infection. It is accompanied by pain, swelling, and tooth sensitivity.
It is crucial to get it checked by an expert dentist because it can affect the tissue, and the infection can spread to another part of the body if ignored. To deal with the emergency at home, use water salt water rinses several times a day. It can be easily identified as the pus-filled pocket appears like a boil under the tooth.
5. Lost Crown Or Filling
Small holes or cavities are covered with the help of dental fillings by dentists in Hope Island. They also restore the structure of a cracked or broken tooth. These are made of metals, glass or plastic.
The filling must be repaired to avoid tooth damage if it is lost. Thus, you must place sugarless gum over the lost filling and find an emergency dentist.
Similarly, if the dental crown comes off, you must reinstate it by booking an appointment with your practitioner. Meanwhile, apply clove oil on the tooth to relieve the discomfort.
6. Broken Braces and Wires
Although braces are robust orthodontic devices that can endure chewing and biting, they can break, or the wires can fall out. A broken brace can have a sharp, pointed tip that can hurt the inner cheek walls and gums.
You must visit your Hope Island dentist as soon as possible. Until then, you must use a cotton swab to push the wire back into position and avoid pain.
Wrapping Up
Oral health is of utmost importance for overall well-being. However, some dental problems, like a mouth injury, may arise out of the blue, and some may evolve over time. In any case, it is essential to identify a dental emergency and visit your dentist without delay.