Dental emergencies often happen when you are least prepared. For example, you could be fine enjoying a leisurely dinner with friends, only to chip a tooth and develop excruciating pain. Therefore, it is advisable to have the contacts of a competent emergency dentist close to you. However, in addition to the emergency contact, you should consider learning some basic emergency dental procedures. Here are three of the most common dental emergencies and instances when you need to visit a dentist urgently.
When You Get a Soft Tissue Injury
The gum, cheeks, and lips are an essential part of your dental formula because gums hold a large part of the tooth and protect the jawline. However, gum infections can lead to the development of abscesses and other complications. Trauma can also damage your lips and the inner parts of your cheeks. Also, soft tissue pain comes from dental wires, brackets, and Invisalign.
When You Experience Pain
Your tooth starts aching because of an infection or trauma. For example, the pain will be excruciating if you bite into something hard, and it gets wedged between the teeth. Your gums might even bleed if the stuck object is sharp. The first response should be rinsing your mouth and checking how deeply wedged it is. Do not try to dislodge it if you suspect it could damage your tooth and gum.
The second cause of pain in the teeth is an infection in the pulp cavity. Pain is an advanced stage in the development of a cavity. You can manage the pain with painkillers. However, ensure you see an emergency dentist immediately to increase the chances of saving the affected tooth.
When You Lose a Tooth
Losing a permanent tooth can be painful. Some common causes include getting hit in the mouth, falling, and other accidents involving trauma to the mouth. If you can locate the knocked-out tooth, pick it and gently run it under tap water. Avoid scrubbing it as that will remove tissue. Instead, store it in some milk and contact an emergency dentist immediately. The dentist will help put the tooth back in place. You should also contact the dentist if the tooth became loose after getting hit but didn't become completely dislodged from the mouth.
You can perform some basic first aid to ease the pain immediately after a dental emergency. However, you should visit a competent dentist immediately for further assistance. A fast response will protect you from permanent tooth loss.
Share29 June 2021
Hi! My name is Sarah, and as a busy professional, I understand the importance of making the most of my time. That includes everything from having productive working lunches to making the most of my dental checkups. I have created this blog to help you maximise your dental checkups. In these posts, you can learn how to prepare for your checkup, which questions to ask during your checkup and more. I am also going to have posts explaining why checkups are critical to your dental health as well as the health of your entire body. Happy reading, and thanks for visiting my blog!
