Have you experienced a persistent toothache that didn’t go away even after taking painkillers? What did you do next? In such circumstances, one needs to seek emergency dental care. It is essential that you seek immediate dental care as soon as possible, as failure to do so can lead to tooth loss and other dental problems. Below, we have listed the 7 most common dental emergencies and what to do when faced with one. So, let’s dive in.
What Are Dental Emergencies?
A dental emergency is any problem affecting your teeth, gums, and other oral tissues that need to be addressed immediately. Seeking immediate dental care will ensure our emergency dentist in Pearland, TX stops bleeding, save your tooth and alleviate persistent pain caused by the dental problem.
What Are the Common Dental Emergencies?
There are different dental emergencies that the emergency dentist near you faces daily. Here are the most common dental emergencies:
1) Broken or Chipped Teeth
Biting down on something too hard or falling can lead to tooth breakage. Not only does a chipped tooth affect your smile, but it also hurts. Additionally, a chipped tooth has sharp edges, which can injure the soft tissues in your mouth. Therefore seeking immediate care will be essential in alleviating the pain caused by chipping a tooth and can prevent further damage to your oral cavity.
2) Toothache
Have you experienced pain all of a sudden in your tooth? Unexplained toothache is never a good sign. Although some pain can be managed by taking over-the-counter painkillers, masking the pain with drugs may hinder finding the root of the problem. The pain you experience might be a sign of toothache. Failure to go for immediate dental treatment might lead to the spread of the tooth infection. Severe tooth decay can lead to tooth loss.
3) Knocked-out Tooth
If you engage in contact sports, you might experience someone getting their tooth knocked out, or you might be the victim. Accidents, too, can lead to knocking out a tooth: for instance, falling on a staircase. A knocked-out tooth can be painful, and seeking urgent dental care is imperative.
4) A Lost Tooth Crown or Filling
Dental restorations like dental crowns and fillings are used to restore chewing function and protect a severely damaged or infected tooth. Therefore, when these dental restorations get knocked out or lost, you should get them replaced as soon as possible. This is to prevent the vulnerable tooth from getting reinfected or damaged.
5) Abscess
Poor oral hygiene is one of the major causes of tooth abscesses. A tooth abscess is characterized by an infection near the tooth’s roots and between the gums and teeth. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other healthy teeth and, in some cases, to the rest of the body. Some signs of infection include a swollen pimple on your gums, intense toothache, and a bad taste in your mouth. So, to avoid further risks to your oral health, visit our dentist in Pearland, TX immediately.
6) Broken Orthodontics
Braces are designed to hold your teeth in place while withstanding the chewing forces. This means that they are made of sturdy material. Nevertheless, the metallic wires found in traditional braces can break and poke your gums and cheeks. The broken metallic wires can cause small cuts, which can be painful. Moreover, staying with broken wires can delay the teeth straightening progress. Seeking urgent dental care will be imperative in ensuring no significant injury n your gums and cheeks.
7) Pain and Bleeding After Tooth Removal
Pain and slight bleeding after a tooth extraction is normal. However, if the pain or bleeding persists, it would be best to seek immediate dental care.
How To Handle Dental Emergencies?
Here are some crucial tips to handle dental emergencies:
- Pain and Bleeding after Tooth Removal- Place a gauze pad on the wound where the tooth was removed and bite down on the gauze to stop the bleeding.
- Broken Orthodontics- Push the broken metallic wire into a safe position that cannot injure your gums. If that is not possible, cover the end of the metallic wire with a piece of gauze or a small cotton ball.
- Abscess- Place an ice pack on the side of the cheek where there is an infection to reduce swelling.
- Lost Tooth Crown or Filling- Place a sugarless chewing gum in place of the tooth crown to act as a temporary crown.
- Knocked-out Tooth- If you find the knocked-out tooth, pick it up by the crown and rinse off the tooth’s roots if dirty. Next, dip the tooth in a glass of milk and take it to the emergency dentist.
- Toothache- avoid painkillers as they’ll mask the pain temporarily. Instead, apply a cold compress on the aching side.
- Broken or Chipped Teeth- Rinse your mouth with warm water, and if there’s bleeding, place a gauze at the site of bleeding. A cold compress will also be effective in relieving pain and reducing swelling.
Visit an Emergency Dentist Near You
Dental emergencies can put your oral health in sabotage. So, when faced with one, don’t hesitate to contact Pearly Whites of Pearland if you are seeking emergency dental care near Shadow Creek Ranch, Pearland, TX!
