Accidents are never planned and rarely anticipated, but good dental care is always ready and available 24/7. Like all medical emergencies, dental emergencies require quality care, and fast! Here’s what to do if you think you have a dental emergency on your hands.
What is a dental emergency?
If you are in a lot of pain or have experienced trauma that puts your oral health at risk, you should seek emergency dental treatment immediately. Sports impact, chewing hard food, using teeth as scissors, and infections can all cause a dental emergency.
Pain and swelling, discoloration of gums or teeth, or a broken or knocked out tooth should send you to the dentist immediately. Dental emergencies can lead to complicated health issues if left untreated.
What to do in a dental emergency
In any dental emergency, call your Edmonds dentist and make an appointment right away. Even if the office is closed, our dentist is on call and available to help. At the same time, clean and treat your wound as much as you can while at home to preserve the tooth and tissues.
Here are some specific care instructions:
- Toothache: Call your dentist as soon as you feel pain. Use painkillers, cold compress, and rinse with salt water as needed.
- Broken, chipped, or cracked tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm water, and apply a cold compress to your face until you see the dentist. Keep missing tooth and tooth pieces in a wet towel and bring them to the dental appointment.
- Tooth knocked out: If your tooth gets knocked out or is very loose, keep it moist and hold it in its original place (if you can) until you see the dentist.
- Bitten lip or tongue: Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress. If bleeding persists or causes discoloration, call your dentist.
Preventing a dental injury
Of course, it’s much easier to avoid an accident in the first place. Your oral health is very important for a fulfilling and enjoyable life.
Protect your teeth and mouth by:
- Wearing a mouthguard when participating in sports or high-impact activities.
- Never use your teeth to cut or open bottles and packages.
- Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels, and hard candy.
Contact us
Dr. Kitts cares about your oral health, whether in life’s everyday moments or in urgent situations. If you need an emergency dentist in Edmonds, contact Soundview Family Dental now. We’ll take care of you and get you back on the path to healing.
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Sources:
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dental-emergencies
http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/dental-emergencies-and-sports-safety/article/do-you-need-emergency-dental-care-0113
