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Common Dental Emergencies

March 26, 2020

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Types Of Dental Emergencies And How To Handle Them

Dental emergencies come in many forms and can be traumatic. Knowing what counts as a dental emergency and how to react can ease anxiety in these situations. It is important to stay calm and contact Beall Dental Center if you experience any of the following.

Cracked or Fractured Tooth

A simple chipped tooth, with no pain, is not considered an urgent dental emergency. However, it is an emergency if the tooth is cracked or fractured and is accompanied with intense pain. A cracked or fractured tooth means that there is damage inside and outside the tooth.

What to do After a Tooth is Cracked or Fractured

• Collect the broken pieces and place them in a dry container 
• Rinse mouth with warm water
• Apply a cold compress to the face

Knocked-out Tooth

There are different circumstances in which your tooth can be knocked out. While this is a painful and scary situation, it is important to stay calm. This dental emergency is more urgent than the others and the outcome depends on how fast you act. 

What to do Immediately After a Tooth is Knocked Out

• Pick the tooth up by the crown (the part used to chew food)
• Gently rinse off the tooth with water
• Rinse out the mouth with water
• If possible, put the tooth back in the socket without touching the root
• If not possible, place in a container of milk or saliva 
• Apply a cold compress to the face where injured 
• Call your dentist for further instructions

Abscess

A tooth abscess is a pocket of puss and leads to an infection that will not go away on its own. Signs of a tooth abscess include a fever, consistent toothache, swelling in the face and a bump on your gum near the tooth. This condition should be treated as soon as possible so it doesn’t spread.

Toothache

The pain that comes from a toothache can range from mild to severe. Mild cases that can be treated with medication are not considered emergencies. If the pain is severe and comes with swelling, a headache, a fever or a bad taste in your mouth, it is time to call Beall Dental Center. 

Ways to Relieve a Toothache

• Rinse out mouth with warm water
• Take over the counter pain reliever 
• Gently floss to remove any debris stuck between your teeth
• Do not apply aspirin directly to the tooth or surrounding gums

Preventing Dental Emergencies

Staying proactive with your dental hygiene is the best way to prevent dental emergencies. While getting regular dental check-ups and having a consistent dental hygiene routine can help reduce your chances of a dental emergency, they can still happen. Other ways to reduce a dental emergency include:

• Refraining from using your teeth to open anything 
• Avoiding chewing on your nails, ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy

Beall Dental Center is here for any dental emergencies you may have. Contact us immediately if you are having a dental emergency.