Nothing beats the importance of being prepared for a dental emergency, which may strike any time. One moment you might be enjoying a crunchy piece of chicken leg, and the other minute you might feel a crack of your tooth, followed by a lot of pain. Dental emergencies can occur at any time due to different reasons, such as physical injury. However, the most important thing is to know what to do in case a dental emergency occurs. Here is a comprehensive guide on what to do when you suffer different types of dental emergencies.
1. Cracked or Broken Tooth
Your tooth can break due to several reasons, such as severe dental decay, biting down on something hard, or trauma. Grinding your teeth at night or even day time can also cause fracture or crack. A crack or broken tooth can sometimes extend all the way to the tooth root. This can cause severe pain. If you notice you have a cracked tooth, it is vital you see your dentist as soon as you can since that constitutes a dental emergency.
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- In case of a cracked tooth, find the piece and keep it safely
- Use some warm water to rinse your mouth
- If there is any swelling or pain, apply some ice pack near the affected area
- Call your dentist immediately
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2. Loose or Knocked-Out Teeth
Any physical injury that may cause a tooth to become loose or fall out constitutes a dental emergency. If the tooth becomes loose, it is vital that you try and prevent it from falling out of the socket. You can do this by going ahead and bite down gently. If it has been knocked out, try and locate it and put it back at the socket. Hold it by the crown, not the root, while putting it back to the socket.
If you are not in a position to put back the tooth on its socket, place it in a glass of water or milk. The faster you can manage to see your dentist, the better the chances of saving the tooth.
3. Toothache
Toothache can be an indication of many different dental conditions. The dentist needs to examine the tooth to know the exact cause. However, the two most common causes of toothache are if something is stuck between the teeth as well as pulp infection. If you experience sudden tooth pain or the pain is progressive, make sure you see your dentist as soon as you can.
4. Bleeding from the Mouth
If your mouth is bleeding, it might be due to a chronic or acute condition. If the bleeding is out of flossing your teeth, the chances are that you have gingivitis or periodontal disease. However, if you notice it on the saliva, it might be due to something more serious such as oral cancer, and require urgent attention.
It is not normal to experience bleeding from your mouth. Therefore, if it happens then, you need to seek urgent attention from your dentist.
5. Abscess
This is an infection that occurs in the space between your gums or tooth root. The infection is always severe and can be detrimental to the surrounding teeth or tissue. It can also spread to other parts of the mouth if you don’t seek timely medical attention.
Visit your dentist immediately you notice a painful pimple or swelling on your gums. Rinse your mouth with warm water as you plan to visit your dentist.
6. Dental Crown Fall Out
Dental crowns can fall out if the tooth beneath them becomes decayed. A decayed tooth under the crown may make it lose shape or fail to fit properly. Visit your dentist immediately in the event that your crown falls out. Before visiting the dentist, keep the crown safely in a container.
Bottom Line
There you have it; some of the dental emergencies, you should be on the lookout for and react immediately once they occur. The action you take after experiencing the emergency and the time you take to see your dentist may mean the difference between keeping and losing your tooth. Our Bayswater dentist is always ready to receive patients suffering from medical emergencies. At our dental clinic, we understand that different dental issues require urgent attention. We can treat such cases the same day without even a prior notice. Visit us today!