New Year: We Secure It With Emergency Dentistry

There are many dental emergencies, and they can occur at any time. But when you are prepared on how to handle them, you shouldn’t panic.

In this blog, we will discuss vital tips to help you handle various dental emergencies. Hopefully, the information will help you reduce the risk of losing irreplaceable natural teeth. But before we get to that, let’s discuss the various types of dental emergencies.

Types of Dental Emergencies

• Abscess: Dental abscess can be dangerous if left untreated for a long time. The infection can go to the heart, causing heart failure.
• Emergency tooth extractions. If wisdom teeth are causing too much trouble, they may have to be extracted.
• Broken dentures
• Severe toothache that won’t respond to recommended painkillers.
• Broken or chipped teeth
• A knocked-out tooth
• Injury to soft tissues such as tongue and gums.

Tips for Dental Emergencies

Now let’s discuss some vital tips that can come in handy during dental emergencies. They include:

Contact a Dentist and Get to the Clinic ASAP

The first thing you should always do is contact a dentist and book an emergency appointment. Dr. John Patangan is here for you if you are looking for a pediatric dentist in Conway, SC. Remember, the faster you get to the dental clinic, the lesser the risk of losing your natural tooth.

If your tooth is knocked out, put it in a glass of milk or saltwater and carry it with you. Alternatively, try to put the tooth back into the socket and bite onto it. Please don’t touch the roots of the tooth while doing so. Touching the roots can kill vital tissues necessary for treatment.

Don’t Exert Unnecessary Pressure to the Affected Tooth.

When a tooth is moving back and forth, you can be tempted to pull it off and get done with it. However, you should never do that. Exerting unnecessary pressure might end up worsening the dental problem. Instead, be gentle and get emergency dental care as soon as possible. Your dentist will know how to deal with the problem professionally, without worsening anything.

Stop the Bleeding

Many dental emergencies involve bleeding. You should try to stop the bleeding before you get to the dentist. Clean the bleeding area with a clean and soft piece of cloth. Then, rinse your mouth with warm water to relax the soft tissues and help stop the bleeding.

If the bleeding won’t stop, use a piece of gauze and apply gentle pressure on the bleeding site. Then, book an emergency appointment in the ER and get there ASAP. Don’t take painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen as they can increase the bleeding. They are anticoagulants.

Control the Bactria Action

Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash or salt water has proved to be effective in various dental problems. Mouthwash contains antibacterial elements that help fight bacteria, causing toothache or abscess. Also, the salt soothes tissues and relaxes muscles, which helps manage pain.

Controlling bacteria action has proved to be effective, especially when dealing with an abscess. It brings pus to the surface, relieving pain and bringing some comfort.

Don’t Drink or Eat with a Dental Emergency before a Visit to the Dentist.

Regardless of the dental emergency, don’t eat or drink before you visit the dentist. Some drinks and foods contain elements that can trigger irritation and pain or even damage to the tooth. Just book an emergency appointment with us, and we help you so you can continue eating your favorite foods. There is no problem with taking some water, though.

Use the Ice-Cold Compress Method

The ice-cold compress method is effective for almost all dental problems. It helps alleviate pain, swelling, and bleeding. To do it, apply ice or a cold piece of cloth from the outside of the target location.

For example, if a molar is aching, apply ice from your cheek for about 15 seconds. Take a break of 20 seconds and apply ice again. Do it until you feel a reduction of pain or swelling. In most cases, you should notice a difference within five minutes.

Kids First Dental (Conway)

Book an appointment with us and let us help you with any dental emergency. If you are wondering why you should trust us, we are family-friendly, and we have an experienced team of doctors. We accept most insurance covers, and our services revolve around our patients and their feelings.