List of Most Common Dental Emergencies and How to Handle It?

A dental emergency is a dental issue that requires immediate medical attention or a temporary solution. Gum disease and tooth decay are common dental emergencies requiring professional treatment to avoid irreversible damage. While dental emergencies are avoidable by following proper oral care tips, knowing what to do when an emergency strikes is essential. According to our emergency dentist near you, one can alleviate the symptoms with first aid tips as they make their way to the dental office. Here are common dental emergencies and how to deal with them.

Severe Toothache

Pain is never a good sign, whether you are experiencing it in your mouth or another part of the body. A toothache could be a sign of tooth decay.

• Rinse your mouth using warm salty water, and if the pain results from dislodged food particles, remove it gently by brushing or flossing it.
• If the toothache is accompanied by signs such as swelling, press an ice pack on the exterior of your cheek or mouth.
• Call your dentist to prescribe you a dose of painkillers. Do Not place aspirin or other pain relievers against your gum or tooth. They can burn your gum tissue.

Once you are treated, follow a proper oral hygiene routine to prevent decay and cavities.

Knocked-Out Tooth

If your tooth has been knocked out, pick it up by its crown and rinse it off if it’s dirty. Avoid scrubbing or removing the attached tissue fragments. Place the tooth back into the socket if possible but don’t force it into the socket. Do this within an hour to have a higher chance of getting it restored. You can also store the tooth by placing it in a small cup containing milk or your saliva. This helps preserve the tooth before getting to the emergency dentist near you.

Broken Tooth

While a broken tooth is annoying, it’s far from life-threatening. However, it all depends on how your tooth has broken and how much it broke off. Slight slips require little concern, unlike significant breaks. Schedule an appointment immediately. If possible, preserve the broken part of your tooth as you would with a knocked-out tooth.

Partially Dislodged Tooth

For a dislodged tooth, press an ice pack on the cheek of the affected tooth and take recommended painkillers. Contact your dentist immediately.

Severe Soft Tissue Damage

Your mouth’s soft tissues consist of your lips, tongue, cheeks, and interior cheeks, amongst others. These tissues can be injured, torn, or start to bleed. To handle the symptoms:

• Rinse your mouth using warm mild-salt water.
• Next, apply pressure on the bleeding site using a moistened, clean gauze or cloth and hold it in place for about ten to twenty minutes. One could also use a caffeinated tea bag. Tea comprises tannic acid that shrinks the blood vessels and decelerates bleeding.
• Place an ice pack on the exterior part of the tissues or mouth on the affected side for five to ten minutes to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
• If you can’t control the bleeding, visit your dentist or an emergency room immediately. Don’t stop applying pressure on the bleeding site until you see the dentist.

Dental Abscess

Abscess is a severe infection near your tooth root, gums, or between teeth. If left untreated, the infections can spread to the neighboring gum tissues and the rest of your body. A dental abscess will resemble a pimple that could be yellow, clear, red, or whitish developing on your gums. If you notice it, avoid popping it and immediately book a dental appointment. Keep brushing and flossing the affected area until you can see visit our emergency dentist in Chaska, MN.

Swelling

Swelling is often an indication that you may have a severe dental infection. Please don’t wait for it to heal on its own; instead, contact your dentist immediately. Ensure you are staying upright and avoid lying down before seeing your dentist. Additionally, drink plenty of fluids to hydrate.

Properly knowing what to do during a dental emergency could save your tooth time and money. Town Dental – Chaska has a dental emergency team ready to handle any dental issue requiring immediate care. Call us at our dental office near you for more information.