How to Handle a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies are stressful situations that require immediate attention. Ignoring a dental emergency increases the risk of severe damage and might also require expensive treatments. Therefore, you need to be cautious in dealing with a dental emergency to save yourself from further complications. This article will reflect on ways to handle the most common dental emergencies. So, let’s get started.
- Broken or chipped teeth:
A chipped or broken tooth not only ruins your smile but also hurts. If you encounter this kind of dental emergency, collect the broken fragments and save them. Meanwhile, you need to rinse with lukewarm water and apply a piece of gauze to the bleeding area. In this way, your bleeding will stop, and you can visit the dentist afterward.
- Falling out of braces’ wires:
Broken wires of braces can be troublesome, and they need to be well-adjusted again. If a wire from your braces breaks out, try to fix it in an appropriate position till you can visit your dentist. Otherwise, add a cotton swab to its end to temporarily relieve your stress before you can schedule an appointment. Never try to cut the wire yourself, as you might accidentally swallow it, and your mouth can damage.
- Abscesses:
Tooth abscesses do not go away on their own. You need to avail dental treatment to get rid of it. However, if you find a painful and pimple-like swollen spot in your gums, be ready to visit your dentist. Meanwhile, you can rinse with a mild water solution and apply ice to the swollen area for temporary relief.
- Toothache:
Pain is not a good sign, and you must visit the dentist at your earliest. However, you can rinse with salt water or hydrogen peroxide to get some relief. You can also apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek before visiting your dentist.
How to avoid injury to the teeth:
Do not chew anything else except food, For instance, pen caps, nails, etc. Some people have oral fixations, and they are prone to chew everything that comes their way. These habits can easily crack or chip their teeth and might encourage bacterial growth. It is good to rely on sugar-free gum to redirect oral fixations in such a case.
Do not eat super hard foods. Hard foods like tough meats or candies can crack your tooth. Therefore, think before you eat anything. Moreover, indulge yourself in choosing a healthy diet to maintain good oral health.
If you are a sports lover, you must use a mouth guard to protect your teeth from injuries.
Final Thoughts:
A dental emergency must be taken seriously to relieve pain and stress. Many dentists usually reserve some time during the day to handle dental emergencies. However, if you face a dental emergency at night, you probably need to wait till morning to visit the dentist. Meanwhile, you must know ways to handle a dental emergency to save yourself from any further damage.
Resource:
Signs And Symptoms Of Teeth Decay In Kids
*This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition.*
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