Dental crises can cause discomfort, anxiety, and sometimes pain. Knowing how to react in these situations, whether it be a sudden toothache, a chipped or knocked-out tooth, or a mouth injury, can significantly impact how long your dental health is preserved. We’ll talk about typical dental crises in this blog, how to handle them, and when getting professional assistance is essential.
- Dental pain
A toothache can be as little as sporadic discomfort or as severe as unbearable pain. It frequently indicates the presence of an underlying dental problem, such as gum disease, tooth decay, or an abscess. Here’s how to proceed:
To clean the region, rinse your mouth with warm water.
Gently floss between the teeth to get rid of any debris that could be there.
For short-term treatment, take over-the-counter pain medicines as prescribed.
Aspirin should not be applied directly to teeth or gums as this could result in damage.
Make an appointment with your dentist so that you can find the source of the toothache.
- A broken or chipped tooth
A sports injury, a tumble, or biting down on anything hard can all cause a chipped or broken tooth. The tooth can be saved with quick action:
To clean the region, rinse your mouth with warm water.
Save the tooth piece and bring it to the dentist if it is still accessible.
To lessen swelling, apply a cool compress to the exterior of your mouth.
Make an appointment for an emergency with your dentist.
- A Broken Tooth
For the best chance of survival, an avulsed tooth, sometimes referred to as a knocked out tooth, needs to be treated right away. Take these actions:
Grab the tooth by its crown, or the visible portion when you grin, not its root.
If the tooth is unclean, gently rinse it with water without scrubbing or removing any connected tissue.
If at all feasible, try to reposition the tooth in its socket. Using a clean cloth or a piece of gauze, gently bite it to hold it in place.
Put the tooth in a container of milk or a special tooth-saving solution if you are unable to replace it.
Visit the dentist as soon as possible, ideally within 30 minutes of the injury. The tooth must be saved quickly.
- Damaged Jaw
A severe dental emergency that can arise from a variety of injuries is a broken jaw. To prevent a jaw fracture, take the following actions:
Tie a bandage, necktie, or piece of material over your head and jaw to keep it immobile.
Use a cold compress to reduce the amount of swelling.
Go to the emergency room and get medical help right away.
- An Object Between Your Teeth
An object being wedged between your teeth can hurt and occasionally even break teeth. To resolve this matter:
Gently and carefully try to remove the thing using dental floss.
Avoid using anything pointy or sharp that could cut your teeth or gums.
See your dentist for help if flossing isn’t working.
- Damage to Soft Tissue
Bleeding and pain can result from injuries to the tongue, lips, and cheeks, which are soft tissues of the mouth. Here’s how to proceed:
To clean the region, rinse your mouth with warm water.
To stop bleeding, gently press the area with gauze or a clean towel.
Seek emergency care or go to the hospital right away if the bleeding persists after a considerable amount of time or if the injury looks serious.
When to Get Expert Assistance
- Even though you can handle dental crises with the help of the preceding measures, it’s important to know when to get professional assistance. Certain circumstances call for emergency dental or medical care:
- significant Pain: An abscess or dental infection may be the cause of your significant, ongoing pain. If treatment for these illnesses is not received, they may turn fatal.
- Dental Restorations that are Lost or Loose: Get in touch with your dentist if a crown, filling, or other dental repair comes loose or falls out. Postponing treatment may exacerbate existing dental issues.
- Severe Bleeding: Get medical help right once if you experience uncontrollable bleeding from your mouth, regardless of the source (injuries or other).
- Swelling and Infection: Fever and facial or gum swelling may be signs of an infection. It must be treated quickly in order to stop it from spreading.
- Broken Jaw: Go to the emergency department if you think you may have a broken jaw.
- Unexpected Changes in Bite: If your bite seems uncomfortable or uneven all of a sudden, there may be a dental problem that has to be treated right away.
- Head or Face Injuries: If you suffer any harm to your head or face, be checked out in the emergency room to make sure no life-threatening wounds are present.
Keeping Dental Emergencies at Bay
Although it is not feasible to completely eradicate the possibility of dental crises, there are actions you may take to lessen its probability:
In order to stop gum disease and tooth decay, practise good oral hygiene.
- When playing contact sports, put on mouthguards.
- Steer clear of chewing on hard things like popcorn kernels, ice, and pencils.
- For cutting objects or opening packages, use scissors rather than your teeth.
- Make an appointment for routine dental examinations to identify and treat possible problems before they worsen.