Dental emergencies can be both unpleasant and frightening, and while prevention using good dental care is the best approach, knowing what to do in an emergency can help prevent long-term problems. What are the most common dental emergencies, and are you prepared to cope when they happen? Let’s find out:

Knocked out tooth

If a tooth is knocked out, contact Kenosha dentist Dr. Boston as soon as possible. The longer a tooth remains out of the mouth, the less probable it is to survive. To improve the odds of saving the tooth, find the tooth and lift it by the crown while avoiding touching the root.

Rinse the tooth lightly with water without scrubbing or removing any associated tissue.

Depending on the nature of the injury, you can reattach the tooth but be careful not to press it into the socket. The sooner you can accomplish this, preferably within an hour, the greater your chances of salvaging and replacing a knocked-out tooth.

If you cannot reinsert the tooth, place it in a small cup of milk, water, and a pinch of salt. This will help to save the tooth in time for emergency repair at a reputable dental clinic.

Toothache

Various factors, including decay, infection, and trauma, cause toothaches. While some toothaches can be treated without an emergency, others, such as swelling, demand immediate attention.

Avoid using aspirin or other pain relievers because contact with the damaged gums might burn the tissue. And you don’t want this. Instead, place a cold compress on the outside of your cheek and contact a dental facility for emergency treatment.

To alleviate tooth discomfort, rinse your mouth with warm water to cleanse the affected area. It might also be wise to gently floss around the tooth to remove any food particles that may have become lodged before you get in touch with a dentist to diagnose the source of the toothache and receive the necessary treatment.

Broken or chipped tooth

A fractured or cracked tooth can be painful and cause sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. To alleviate pain and avoid further injury, place a piece of gauze over the bleeding area and rinse your mouth with warm water.

To lessen discomfort and swelling, apply a cold compress on the area of your face nearest the broken or chipped tooth before you visit a dental clinic. Bring any fragments of the fractured tooth with you if you can.

You should note that a dentist will urge you to avoid biting down on hard, crunchy foods, engaging in sports, and other activities that can shatter or chip your teeth.

Lost filling or crown

Crowns and fillings restore previously damaged teeth to optimal beauty and function. So, if these break, you should treat them quickly to minimize further harm or reinfection.

Try this temporary solution while you wait for emergency dental care. Stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity, but do not attempt to repair the tooth yourself to avoid more damage.

You can also place the restoration in a zip-top bag and bring it to your dentist’s office to be reapplied or replaced with a new crown.

Abscess

An abscess is a pocket of infectious pus at the base of a tooth or the gums. Abscesses can cause pain, fever, and edema. Infections in the mouth, particularly around the base of a tooth or in the gap between the teeth and gums, are dangerous. If you leave them untreated, they can spread to the surrounding teeth, gum tissue, and the rest of the body.

If you suspect you have an abscess, rinse your mouth with warm salt water to cleanse the affected region and minimize swelling.

Uncertain whether you have an abscess? Look for a sore, pimple-like swelling area on your gums. Contact a dentist immediately for emergency care to prevent more serious oral health issues.

Rinse your mouth with a gentle water solution and place ice on the swollen area for short-term relief.

Broken orthodontics

Braces are durable; the metal wires and brackets are made to resist everyday wear and tear from eating, talking, and chewing. Even this being the case, they can shatter or protrude and irritate your gums and cheeks.

In addition to being uncomfortable, this can impede or even reverse the process of tooth alignment and straightening.

When this occurs, you can attempt to push the broken wire into a more comfortable position. If this isn’t feasible, use gauze, orthodontic wax, or a tiny cotton ball to cover the exposed end. Don’t cut the wire to prevent swallowing, no matter how annoying it is.

Bleeding and pain after tooth extraction

Post-operative discomfort and bleeding are normal, but you must contact your dentist if they continue even an hour after the procedure.

Meanwhile, cover the extraction site with a thick piece of gauze and bite down on the gauze to exert pressure. Avoid smoking, spitting, sucking, drinking, and eating.

Tricks to Reduce Dental Emergencies

You don’t want to be in a situation where you have to deal with a dental emergency, do you? To minimize the chances of this happening, avoid engaging in rough games that could damage your mouth and face or chip or remove a tooth. Before you hit the court or field, put on a mouth guard.

Despite the strength of human teeth, you will be shocked at how easily they can chip or shatter. Strong, straight, attractive teeth can break due to various things, including hard candy and tough foods.  

Thinking before you bite is the best defense against this. Don’t indulge your candy addiction, as the risk of chipping your tooth and developing cavities from too much sugar is too high.

Many people have oral fixations such as chewing on pen caps and other non-food objects and biting their nails.

This being the case, did you know that these poor practices might lead to tooth chipping or cracking? You can stop these harmful habits by keeping your hands occupied and chewing sugar-free gum to refocus your mouth fixations, promoting salivation and eliminating bacteria.

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