The best dental treatment is preventative. If you follow good preventative care, you hopefully will not suffer any dental emergencies, but sometimes things happen. If you suffer any dental emergency, you may find yourself unsure what to do. Here is a quick guide to what to do if you suffer any of the following:
Loose, injured or broken teeth
Call your family dentist and make an appointment.
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. If a tooth gets knocked out, place it in a cup of water and call us immediately.
Bleeding
Call your family dentist and make an appointment.
Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply firm pressure. If the bleeding does not stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.
Gum injuries
Call your family dentist and make an appointment.
Rinse the area with warm SALT water. You can also use a topical anesthetic, such as Anbesol, which is available at pharmacies and supermarkets. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue.
Loose crowns or implants
Call your family dentist immediately and make an appointment.
A loose crown may be an indication of an underlying problem. It is very important to get the crown or implant back in position as soon as possible. A missing tooth can cause shifting of other teeth and a change in the overall bite.
Severe Toothache
First, call your family dentist and make an appointment.
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Continue this every hour or as needed to ease the pain. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. If the pain is caused by debris lodged in a cavity, washing the area may relieve the problem, temporarily, but it will eventually need to be treated with white composite fillings.
In addition to being skilled cosmetic dentists, Dr. Jamie Sands and Dr. Jason Sands are prepared to deal with severe dental emergencies. If you need emergency care, contact our family dentist at Smiles by Sands today for a free dental emergencies evaluation.
