Dental Emergency

Dental emergencies happen more frequently than we often realize. Fortunately, most of them have happy endings. If you should ever experience or encounter a dental emergency, you will need to know how to act until a dentist or emergency dentist is available.

 

Some common dental emergencies:

· Severe tooth pain

· Bleeding gums caused by trauma

· Knocked out tooth

Tooth Pain

Pain is the classic sign that your body is telling you that something is wrong. In the case of tooth pain, the situation rarely resolves itself on its own. In fact, if you do not take action, the situation will likely grow worse.

Tooth pain is usually caused by tooth decay, which is an infection of oral bacteria that can inflame nerves within and surrounding the teeth. If you should experience a severe toothache, contact your dentist or emergency dentist right away to receive prompt pain relief and treatment for its cause.

Tender or Bleeding Gums

Unless there has been some type of trauma to the area of the mouth, bleeding gums are usually a concerning sign, but not a true emergency. If you were in some type of violent collision, such as a sports accident or vehicle crash, contact your dentist right away if you should experience bleeding gums, as this could also involve a cracked or fractured tooth.

In the case of gums that are tender or bleed after brushing, you may try cutting back on your brushing pressure or buying a tooth brush with softer bristles. If the tenderness or bleeding persists, this could indicate gum disease. Although this is not a true emergency, you should still contact your dentist sooner rather than later to schedule an appointment and undergo an examination.

Knocked Out Teeth

Getting a tooth knocked out is definitely a dental emergency. If you get a tooth knocked out and you are continually bleeding, you need to stop the bleeding first. If you can find the tooth, take it by its crown without touching its roots. Gently rinse it with room temperature water and try reinserting it. Remember to orient it into its normal position. Bite down gently on it.

If you cannot replace the tooth into its socket, put it into a small container of milk. Alternately, you could hold it between your inner cheek and teeth. Visit your dentist or emergency dentist as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance of replacing your natural tooth.

Chipped Tooth

If you break a tooth or it gets chipped, attempt to collect the broken fragments. Rinse both your mouth and the broken tooth fragments using room temperature water. If you are bleeding, place a piece of gauze or cotton to stop the bleeding. Visit your dentist soon to avoid further complications.

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