Using the very best electric toothbrush of 2016 and the best water flosser recommended by dentists is guaranteed to help keep your mouth in a better state of health. The only problem being that even with all the proactive hygiene and healthcare in the world, you cannot necessarily rule out the possibility of a dental emergency.
The first rule when it comes to dental emergencies of all kinds is not to panic. While it may not seem like it at the time, the vast majority of dental emergencies are not in fact as severe and dangerous as they appear when they occur. Generally speaking, they are also nowhere near as severe as standard medical emergencies. That being said, if you find yourself in absolute agony following a dental incident of some kind, you will want the problem dealt with as quickly, efficiently and effectively as possible.
The question being – what do you do when this happens at a time when your usual dental practice is closed?
Well, the simple answer is that it all comes down to the specifics of the dental emergency you are facing. So rather than descending into a blind panic and not knowing what to do, take a look at the following examples of what exactly you should be doing when facing a dental emergency:
Swollen Face with Pain
First of all, if over a short period of time your face swells up to a worrying extent and may also be accompanied by a relatively severe pain, chances are you have a severe infection. If there is no other obvious explanation for the swelling, it could be an infection of the teeth, the gums or the jaw – all of which warrant immediate medical attention. Do not delay, as these are the kinds of conditions that only tend to get worse with time. If you are not able to see a dentist at the time, consider taking a trip to your local emergency room.
Tooth Knocked Out
If at any time you go through the horror of inadvertently having a tooth knocked out, it’s important to remember that it may be entirely possible to have the same tooth re-implanted in your mouth if you act quickly. As such, the most important thing to do is not to panic. If you have the tooth and it has otherwise not sustained a great deal of damage, be sure to pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the roots. The more you touch the roots, the lower the likelihood of successful implantation.
If the tooth is hygienically clean, dentists recommend physically putting it back from where it came in your mouth. This can of course be relatively unpleasant and daunting prospect, but will nonetheless significantly improve the likelihood that the tooth can once again be implanted. Given the fact that the problem needs to be dealt with in less than an hour for the best possible chance of success, you’ll need to head to an emergency dentist immediately or your nearest hospital.
Broken, Cracked or Chipped Tooth
There are two types of damaged teeth when it comes to dental emergencies – those that hurt like hell and those that do not. If at any time you find yourself with a cracked, broken or chipped tooth, you will of course need to bring it to the attention of a dental professional as soon as possible. However, if the damage to the tooth has not caused you and is not causing you any specific pain or discomfort, there’s really no immediate rush. Likewise, if there is just a small amount of sensitivity following the breaking of the tooth, there’s no need to panic in the immediate moment. Instead, simply get in touch with your dentist during operational hours to make an appointment for the necessary treatment.
By contrast, if you find yourself in absolute agony with a severely damaged or broken tooth, you should think about contacting an emergency dentist or heading to the emergency room. It is unlikely that the broken tooth will have a disastrous impact on your health in general, but the pain can nonetheless be excruciating if left unaddressed.
Abscess
An abscess in the mouth is effectively a large, infected spot that builds up beneath the surface. They can affect both the teeth and the gum alike, with more often than not making their presence known with extraordinary pain and/or swelling. It is difficult to diagnose yourself with an abscess as it is usually necessary to use X-rays and the other diagnostic techniques to confirm them. However, if you suspect you have an abscess in the mouth or that something of a simile nature is developing, contact an emergency dentist or schedule the earliest possible appointment. If the pain is too severe, consider taking a trip to the emergency room.
Pain When Biting
There are literally dozens of reasons why it suddenly may become painful to bite down or chew food. It could be anything from an abscess to a cracked tooth to gum disease and plenty of other possible causes besides. As such, whether or not it is necessary to seek emergency treatment will be determined by the level of pain and discomfort you are feeling at the time. In many instances, it could simply be a case of temporary sensitivity that will go away on its own. Nevertheless, if it does not seem to be getting better of its own accord or is actually getting progressively worse, schedule yourself an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.
Bleeding
Last but not least, any sign of bleeding from the mouth should not be considered normal and simply ignored. Along with being one of the first symptoms of gum disease, there are various other problems that can lead to bleeding of the mouth. If you notice only a very small amount of blood coming from your gums, your tongue or anywhere else, chances are it is nothing particularly severe though nonetheless MUST be brought to the attention of your dentist at the earliest possible juncture. However, if bleeding of the mouth is either prolific or on-going, it may signal something more serious that requires urgent attention.
