Let’s face it – there’s never a good time for an emergency, and that includes dental emergencies. They tend to happen at the most inconvenient times like over a holiday weekend or while you’re on vacation. Go figure! The best advice is to call your dentist ASAP. Oh, and don’t panic. I know, easier said than done.
Keep in mind that the mouth bleeds easily, so don’t get woozy if a minor injury looks like a scene out of a horror movie. The mouth tends to bleed a lot because there are so many tiny blood vessels, plus blood mixed with saliva makes, well, more blood. Apply pressure with a clean gauze to stop the bleeding. For persistent pain, over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol is your friend. Avoid Aspirin since it thins your blood and can worsen bleeding. In rare but very serious cases, a dental emergency might require a trip to the ER.
Here are some of the most common dental emergencies and how to handle them like a champ.
Abscess: Pimple-like swelling in the mouth is a telltale sign of an oral abscess, which is an infection, and that spells bad news. An abscess is a serious condition that if not treated quickly can potentially spread to other parts of your body, and in some cases be life-threatening. Your mouth makes up the “triangle of death”, the area on your face between your eyebrows, down your nose, to the corners of your mouth. Don’t mess with that area, and get to your dentist pronto! To alleviate pain, try rinsing with mild salt water throughout the day.
Broken/lost crown or filling: Such a pain, literally! Expect some discomfort or pain in the tooth area. Do you still have the crown? Let’s hope you didn’t swallow it. If you did, you’ll probably survive. Totally joking! It’s not the end of the world if you accidently ate it along with your lunch, but if you have it handy, bring it with you to the dentist. If a filling popped out, you can be innovative and stick a piece of gum (sugarless of course) into the cavity as placeholder. If you want to try your hand at dentistry, you can buy some dental cement from the drug store to temporarily hold things together.
Cracked tooth: This will hurt until your dentist can repair it. A cracked or fractured tooth is usually indicative that the inner parts of the tooth are affected, which if not repaired promptly and properly, could lead to loss of the tooth. Immediately swish and rinse with warm water to clean the tooth. Pop some Tylenol, and ice your face to reduce swelling to the area. The sooner you see your dentist, the better the outcome.
Knocked out tooth: Let’s hope you have a cool story behind this one! Kidding of course. Time is of the essence with a knocked out tooth, and every minute counts. Rule number one – handle the tooth by the crown, not the root, so that you don’t damage the cells needed for reattachment. Rule number two - keep the tooth moist. First, gently rinse off the tooth with water. If possible, place the tooth back in the socket but don’t force it. If that’s a no-go, then either place the tooth between your teeth and gums or in a container of milk. Get to the dentist fast!
Loose tooth: While this is not quite as bad as a knocked out tooth, it’s still painful. Just like with a knocked out tooth, time is everything, so hightail to the dentist! A loose permanent tooth that is stabilized and put back in place quickly has a chance of fully healing. If it’s a loose baby tooth, depending on the child’s age, the tooth might be pulled.
Soft-tissue injuries: Soft-tissue consists of the cheeks, gums, lips, and tongue. These areas are prone to bleed from even the slightest trauma. It could be as minor as biting your tongue or as major as busting open your lip. To treat soft-tissue injuries, gently clean the area with water and apply a cold compress. For bleeding, apply pressure with clean gauze. If the injury is serious and the bleeding is heavy, it might require stiches to properly heal.
Stuck food: Got a popcorn kernel wedged way up under your gum line? With all the delicious food we sink our teeth into, it’s just a matter of time before things get stuck. Rule of thumb – don’t use scissors or sharp, pointed objects to cut or pry anything out of your mouth. Attempt to carefully remove whatever is stuck by using dental floss. If that’s unsuccessful, leave it up to your dentist to do the digging.
Toothache: An aching tooth probably wins the title for “most popular dental emergency”. Tricky thing is that it could mean a lot of things. Your dentist will have to examine your mouth and access the situation. First, rinse with warm water and floss to remove any debris. If there’s swelling, apply a cold compress on the outside of your face where the pain is located. Don’t fall for that “Aspirin trick” because putting a pain reliever directly on the gums can burn the tissue, making things more painful and much worse.
If you find yourself in the unfortunate event of a dental emergency, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request to schedule your consultation.