Common Dental Emergencies… …and how to be prepared for them!

Whenever we think of a health emergency, we don’t imagine it to have something to do with our gums or teeth. However, serious dental problems are an unfortunate commonplace. They affect not only children but also adults.

There is a difference between dental problems that are routine and can wait until your next appointment with the dentist, and ones which are very serious. If they are not addressed early, they can cost you a tooth or even cause serious health problems.

What could be a probable tooth emergency?

Dental emergencies are not uncommon. We, at Fresh Dental, see these situations often. To help you understand these critical situations better and to be proactive, we have put together a list of questions that you need to answer. If you answer yes to any of these, then it is considered an emergency:

• Is your mouth bleeding?
• Do you have swelling on your gums or around the lower part of your face? (This could be due to a serious infection or abscess.) Both of these are potentially life-threatening conditions can spread infections to other parts of your body.
• Have you lost a tooth? Or chipped or cracked one?
• Are your gums or teeth hurting severely? Severe pain or bleeding is a sure sign of an emergency.
• Do you have a loose tooth? You might swallow a loose tooth in case you don’t get it fixed in time, causing serious problems.

When such a critical situation arises, your emergency dentist should be the first you call. However, we cannot predict when a situation like this will arise.

Here is a list of things that you should know to do:

• In case of a broken tooth, carefully rinse the tooth and store it in a milk container to take to your emergency dentist at the first possible chance.
• In case of bleeding, pus or abscess, rinse your mouth with mild salt water to reduce the pain till the time you can see your dentist.
• In case of a tooth fracture, rinse your mouth with warm water with salt and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Do not take medicine without your doctor’s advice.
• Use cloth gauze to slow down the bleeding.
• Visit your dentist at the earliest. Have the contact number and address of your dentist handy. Our Fresh Dental centres in Concord, NC and Gastonia, NC offer world class amenities for dental treatments
• The best way to avoid dental emergencies is to maintain good oral health and hygiene by scheduling regular dental check-ups. At Fresh Dental, Indian Trail, NC, we provide customised treatment plans to check for loose fillings, infections, signs of gum decay etc. that go a long way in avoiding painful situations.

Falls and accidents are the major causes of injuries to your teeth and mouth. Always take precautions like wearing a seatbelt or helmet while driving and riding, wear a faceguard and mouthguard while playing contact sports, avoid uneven and wet terrain while walking.

Still, if you find yourself in a dental emergency, time is the essence in containing the situation. Contact us to learn more.