The Ten Most Common Dental Emergencies and First Aid

 

Dental emergencies are something you can’t ignore. Given there are many cases of common dental emergencies that keep dentists up, knowing what to do is key to walking away from dental emergencies unscathed. Not knowing what to do can cause significant inconvenience because of the intense pain or make the underlying causes of some dental emergencies worse. We provide ten of the most common dental emergencies for the uninformed and what first aid actions you must take to ensure the situation doesn’t go out of hand.

Knocked-out Tooth

Accidents happen, and one of the most common results involving the mouth is a knocked-out tooth.

Worse, several teeth are knocked out. If it takes you 30 minutes to properly reach the dentist to place

your teeth back into their socket, you can save your teeth. However, in the meantime,

you may be able to place your tooth back in its socket if you do it properly. Ensure that you pick up your

tooth on the side you chew on. If you can’t place your tooth back in its socket, don’t worry.

You need to keep your tooth moisturized until you reach the dentist. You may set your knocked-out

tooth in a glass of milk. If milk is not around, you may place your knocked-out tooth carefully between

your teeth and gums until you reach a dentist.

Mouth Injury

Even if an accident involving the mouth doesn’t cause a knocked-out tooth or teeth,

you may expect some of your teeth to be knocked loose. Worse yet, your jaw might be broken.

In an accident, call your dentist immediately and have them meet you in the ER.

Once there, it would help if you reminded them to look into the possibility of a broken jaw.

In the meantime, your dentist can make the appropriate steps to prevent you from losing your loose teeth.

Infection

An infection is an indication that there is something wrong in your body that you

shouldn’t ignore. If left unattended, a case of infection could worsen into something life-threatening.

In the event of an infection, call your dentist immediately. Never consider DIY remedies or

take antibiotics without a prescription. You may, however, take over-the-counter pain relievers

while waiting for a dentist to examine your case of infection.

Pain

Do not ignore pain. You may experience pain when biting down, which means you have a broken or

chipped tooth. However, in the case of intense pain, this might be caused by infection or a dental abscess

which means prompt attention is needed. Even a slight discomfort may need looking into. 

Mouth Sores

Mouth sores are caused by various diseases such as canker sores or foot-and-mouth disease,

among others. You may be able to kill off most of the bacteria causing your mouth sores by

gargling hydrogen peroxide. However, be careful of swallowing hydrogen peroxide.

If your mouth sores don’t show abating, see a dentist immediately.

Sensitive Teeth

Sensitive teeth are not severe or life-threatening. However, feeling a sting once you

bite into ice cream or take in a hot beverage is inconvenient. You may take note of your

sensitive teeth in your next dental appointment. In the meantime, use toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth.

Bleeding

Bleeding is a matter you can’t afford to ignore. Bleeding can be tell-tale signs

that something more serious is happening. Bleeding could be an indication of a serious case

of gum infection or cancer. Once you see blood on your floss, call your dentist immediately.

If you experience continuous bleeding after a tooth extraction, you should go back to a dentist to look into it.

Swelling

Like bleeding, swelling indicates something more serious such as an infection.

You need to call your dentist immediately once you experience swelling.

In the meantime, drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. While waiting for your swelling

to be examined by a dentist, always stay upright and avoid lying down.

Broken Teeth

The action you need to take in the case of broken teeth depends upon

the extent of the damage. However, in any case, a broken tooth will worsen if attention

is not paid to it. Teeth will more easily break if it has some portions of it chipped already.

In the case of substantial breakage, call your dentist immediately.

Gum Abscess

A gum abscess is a sign that your gum or tooth is infected.

In the case of your tooth, it may require a root canal or an extraction.

Nevertheless, do not pop your gum abscess to avoid the risk of spreading bacteria.

Though gum abscesses may appear like pimples, they may be signs of something more severe.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist to examine your gum abscess as soon as possible.

In the meantime, practice good oral health (click here) while waiting for your dental appointment.

Takeaways

Dental emergencies may happen anytime. However, practicing good oral hygiene can

keep out most causes of dental emergencies. If you encounter one, these helpful tips can help

you save your teeth and avoid the inconvenience of living with pain for a long time.

Having your dentist’s number with you can come in handy in a dental emergency.

A dentist, after all, is the most qualified professional to help you through dental emergencies.