Common Dental Emergencies and What You Can Do About It
When you have a toothache or sensitivity, how can you tell if it can be handled at home or if you need dental emergency services? Knowing the difference between urgent and non-urgent dental accidents can make all the difference. In this post, we list some of the common dental emergencies and what you can do as you wait for treatment.
1. Severe and Persistent Toothache
Tooth pain comes in different degrees; some toothaches can be handled at home with home remedies and others need urgent treatment. Mild tooth pains are often caused by food stuck between the gums, but the pain will clear once you remove the particles.
If you are experiencing persistent and severe pain, it could be a sign of decay or fracture. Dental decay and gum infection not only causes pain but also gum bleeding and lingering sensitivity. Fractures on the teeth can also cause pain and at times swelling.
Using home remedies to address this kind of pain can be detrimental to your teeth and dental health. This is because the decay can spread to the surrounding tissues and the fracture can affect the nerves and ligaments.
When you visit an emergency dentist near you, he will assess the teeth, remove the decay and prevent the spread of the infection.
2. Loose teeth
Loose teeth in kids are common as the primary teeth come out to make room for the permanent ones. However, loose permanent teeth can be problematic and a sign of a serious dental problem. Wiggly teeth are often a sign of a tooth injury caused by an accident or fall.
Localized gum infection can affect the soft tissue and ligaments causing the teeth to become weak. If you have loose teeth, accompanied by pain, you may need urgent dental care.
3. Knocked-out teeth
While our teeth are designed to last for a lifetime, they can come out when you get hit or fall. The teeth can get partially knocked out or completely dislodged from the socket. When this happens, it is important to visit immediately within an hour as it increases the chances of the dentist saving your teeth.
What you do after the teeth are avulsed will determine if the teeth can be saved. Try pushing the teeth back to the socket using the crown, if they are partially avulsed. Do not attempt to pull the teeth out, only the dentist can decide if the teeth can be pulled out or not.
4. Bleeding gums and aches
Seeing gum bleeding after flossing is not normal and can indicate early signs of gum disease. Gum inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection, and if left untreated, it can spread to the nearby soft tissue. You have to visit the dentist if you notice persistent gum bleeding accompanied by swelling and pain. The dentist will begin the treatment on time to stop the infection from spreading.
5. Swollen jaw
Jaw swelling is often caused by infected salivary glands. The bacteria infection can spread to the jaw and block the salivary glands and this can stop the production of saliva. Saliva is vital to your oral health because it helps to clean the mouth and remove food particles. This will increase the risk of decay.
6. Dental abscess
A teeth abscess is a painful gum infection and is usually caused by an untreated gum infection. Abscesses are pimples filled with pus that form on the gums. You may also experience fever, swollen glands, and bad taste. A dental abscess cannot clear on its own and you may need surgery to get rid of the infection. Rinsing your mouth with warm water mixed with salt a couple of times a day can help ease the pain
How Can You Prevent Dental Emergencies?
Dental emergencies may not be completely prevented, but you can reduce the severity of the accident. Maintaining proper oral hygiene can prevent decay and gum infection. Wearing a mouthguard can help protect the teeth from the pressure of bruxism or teeth grinding.
Take Action
Visit Mountain West Dental if a dental accident occurs for immediate assessment and treatment.