Does it often seem like everyone is blowing things out of proportion to seek dental care for every oral problem? You are not the only one. Unfortunately, the perspective is skewed, given that professional dental care exists for prevention, emergency, restoration, and aesthetic care. Therefore, multiple dental services can cater to all your oral needs. Besides, you may never quite understand the benefits of having an available emergency dentist at Bella Smiles Cosmetic and Family Dentistry until you have an impending oral emergency.
What Is a Dental Emergency?
It is a situation of sudden, urgent, and often severe damage or pain to the teeth, gums, or other oral features. Dental emergencies always require immediate attention from a dental professional. Dental emergencies can occur due to various factors, such as trauma, infection, decay, or sudden injury. Since most of these factors cannot be predetermined to avoid, you must be ready with an action plan on how to proceed when faced with a dental emergency. The stakes are higher for children with little to no control regarding their response to such matters.
Common Types of Dental Emergencies
Some common examples of dental emergencies include:
- Severe toothache or tooth pain
- Knocked-out tooth or a partially dislodged tooth
- Cracked or broken tooth
- Abscess or infection in the gums or tooth
- Broken or lost dental fillings or crowns
- Jaw injury or pain
- Object stuck between teeth
- Severe bleeding from the mouth or gums
- Severe swelling or infection in the mouth or face
Why You Must Manage Your Dental Emergencies at Home
At-home dental emergency treatments can significantly benefit your oral health before you can access a dentist near you. Usually, how to handle a dental emergency at home helps your case in the following ways:
- Preventing the progression and advancement of dental problems.
- Suppressing pain before seeking professional help.
- Preserving tooth structures and oral devices for potential reattachment.
- Ensuring the best possible outcome for your oral health
- Immediate attention to your oral needs – emergencies can occur at any time. Therefore, you may not always be in a position to see a dentist immediately.
- Reducing anxiety and promoting peace of mind since you can mitigate the problem at home.
Tips For Managing Dental Emergencies at Home
Home remedies for tooth pain and any other dental emergency can look different depending on the severity of the problem. Still, understand that immediate dental care at home is temporary. You need further treatment from a professional near you. Some tips to help you along until you can receive proper treatment from a dentist are:
- Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to flush toxins from the mouth and kill bacteria.
- Floss to dislodge and eliminate any debris potentially causing pain between your teeth.
- Cold compress the swollen or aching side of your mouth.
- Take readily over-the-counter pain medicine like ibuprofen to alleviate the discomfort and pain. Pain relievers should always be part of your home DIY dental first aid kit.
- Rinse a partially dislodged or knocked-off tooth and try to reinstate it into its socket if possible. If you cannot put it back in, store the knocked-out tooth in a container of milk or saliva and go to the dentist immediately. In cases of a tooth fracture, find the broken piece, rinse it off, and bring it to the dentist with you.
- Apply pressure to the area of your gums that is bleeding. Use a clean, damp cloth to help stop the bleeding, then see your dentist as soon as possible.
- Use sugar-free gum to cover the affected tooth after losing a dental filling. Alternatively, get over-the-counter dental cement to serve the same role until you can see your dentist.
Conclusion
Ultimately, remember that at-home first aid tips are interim measures that should not replace proper dental treatment from a qualified dentist. If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, call a dentist soonest to book an appointment.