Dental emergencies can knock at your door at any moment. Often, they lead to anxiety and discomfort. Whether it is a chipped tooth, lost filling, or a sudden toothache, you must know how to handle these situations promptly. With this, you can make a significant difference in your comfort and overall oral health.
Seeking immediate care for dental emergencies is vital. However, there are several steps you can take at home until you go to an emergency dentist. These steps will help you manage common dental emergencies effectively.
This guide will discuss practical tips for handling dental emergencies before visiting an emergency dentist.
Tips to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
Here are some common dental emergencies and ways to handle them.
Swelling or Abscess
At first, rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution. It will help lower inflammation and draw out pus. You have to apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to reduce pain and swelling. Moreover, avoid applying heat to the affected area. This is because it may worsen the swelling.
You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen. It will help manage discomfort until you get emergency dental care in Airdrie, AB.
Toothache
You have to rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Once done, you need to floss gently to remove any trapped food particles that might be resulting in discomfort. You can apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to lower swelling and numb the pain.
Remember, you need to avoid placing aspirin or any other painkiller directly on the gum. This is because it may lead to irritation.
Broken or Chipped Tooth
For chipped or broken teeth, you need to rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. If there is bleeding, you can apply gauze to the affected area for approximately 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops.
You have to save any fragments of broken tooth and rinse them with warm water. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to minimize it if there is swelling. In addition, you have to avoid eating crunchy or hard foods that may further damage the tooth.
Lost Crown or Filling
You need to clean the area with warm water to gently remove any debris if a filling falls out. Once done, you need to cover the exposed area temporarily. For that, you can use dental cement or temporary filling material that you can find at most pharmacies.
Sometimes, a crown comes off. If it happens, you have to clean the crown and try to reattach it. Use dental adhesive or temporary dental cement to reattach it.
Knocked-out Tooth
If it takes place, avoid touching the tooth roots. You have to pick the tooth up by the crown, the part that is normally visible in the mouth. Once done, rinse the tooth gently with water. Make sure you do not scrub or remove any attached tissue.
Try to insert the tooth into its socket if possible and hold it in place by gently biting down on a clean piece of cloth or gauze. If you are unable to do so, you need to place it in a container of milk or saliva to keep it moist until you get emergency dental care.
If you have any dental emergencies, feel free to get in touch with us. With us, you can get the best emergency dental care for sure.
