Dental Emergencies 101: What to Do When the Unexpected Happens
Life can be quite unpredictable. Similarly, dental emergencies always knock on your door uninformed. If you wish to brace yourself for dental emergencies in Waterdown, you should understand what constitutes a dental emergency and what steps you are supposed to take if you happen to find yourself stuck in one of them.
Common Dental Emergencies And Ways Of Tackling Them
In case of a dental emergency, you need urgent dental care by a dental expert. Given below is the list of some very common dental emergencies that you should be aware of and some steps that you can take before you reach the emergency dentist near you:
- Severe toothache: A sharp tooth pain that is not reducing in severity is certainly a dental emergency. You may have noticed that in other types of aches like a headache, massaging your head, grasping it tightly or applying a pain-relieving balm can bring about a significant relief. The same is not true for dental pain.
How to deal with severe toothache?
Take an over-the-counter painkiller to get some relief from pain and discomfort. Additionally, call your same day emergency dentist and get yourself evaluated to address the root cause of the pain.
- A broken or chipped tooth: When you bite something really hard or you undergo an accident or a fall there is a chance that you may end up in a broken or a chipped tooth. This can cause excruciating pain as the nerves lying deep within the tooth may get exposed if the fracture line runs into the deeper layers of the tooth structure.
How to deal with a broken tooth?
Gently wash the area if possible so that the dirt particles may not infect the wounded area. Contact your same day emergency dentist as soon as possible as the pain may become unbearable if the nerves are exposed.
- Knocked Out tooth: When a tooth pops out from its socket we call it a knocked-out tooth. A harsh blow on the face or a sudden impact like a fall can cause this dental emergency.
How to deal with a knocked-out tooth?
A knocked tooth can be placed back into the gums and saved if you receive emergency dental care immediately, within the first half an hour. The knocked out tooth is to be handled by the top part without touching the root part. It has to be gently rinsed and placed in a container with milk or tooth-preserving solution until you receive urgent dental care.
- Abscess Or Swelling: An untreated cavity that went ignored for a long time may get infected suddenly and the area around may swell up. This can cause pain and discomfort and needs to be addressed immediately.
How to deal with Abscess or Swelling?
Use a cold compress to get some relief. Rinsing with salt water can also help in alleviating pain. You need to seek professional help of an emergency dentist in case of an abscess or swelling.
How Can You Prevent a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies cannot be totally avoided but here are some oral care tips that can help you prevent dental emergencies:
- Routine dental check-up– A regular visit to the dentist helps find potential dental problems that may turn out to become dental emergencies in the future.
- Avoid hard foods– There is a myth that our teeth grow strong when we bite on hard foods. In reality, hard foods put your teeth at a heavy risk of breaking or fracturing. Therefore, abstain from biting on hard foods like popcorn kernels.
- Practice good oral hygiene– Proper brushing and flossing prevent decay and gum problems. Good oral hygiene is essential to prevent painful infections.
- Wear mouthguards– Make sure to wear a custom mouthguard to keep your teeth and gums protected from grave injuries.
Confused Where To Go When You Face A Dental Emergency?
Emergencies are always uncalled for but why should they stop you from receiving the care and comfort that you need? Visit us at Magnolia Dental Waterdown when you come across any dental emergency. Our team consists of emergency dental care experts who are dedicated to provide relief and comfort in such difficult times. You can always reach us by phone or book an appointment online.
