Dental Emergencies- What You Need To Know

Over the course of your life, it is probable that you will find yourself in a situation that could be considered a dental emergency

. Whether caused by tooth decay or an accident to your mouth, modern dentistry has advanced to the point where almost any situation is fixable so it is important to not panic. If you act quickly and see your dentist as soon as you can, your dental emergency can usually be resolved relatively quickly and painlessly. In any case, it is important to see your dentist as quickly as possible. The longer you wait to seek treatment for an issue, the greater chance it will develop into a more difficult problem to treat.

Ways To Prevent Emergencies

To prevent a dental emergency, there are a few precautions that you can take. One of the most common instances where injuries occur is during athletic competition. To prevent injuries to your mouth, it is very important to wear a mouthguard. Especially in contact sports, an inadvertent elbow or getting tackled the wrong way can easily lead to a knocked out tooth or other problem. By protecting yourself, you can eliminate one of the largest risk factors for a dental emergency. It can also be beneficial to avoid hard candy, popcorn and chewing ice. These foods are known to cause cracks in teeth and staying away from them can decrease your chances for a dental emergency.

Common Emergencies And How To Handle Them

There are a variety of possible dental emergencies that can affect you. Here are a few of the most common and some advice on how to deal with them:

*Knocked out tooth. If your tooth gets knocked out, first locate the tooth and pick it up by the crown. If it is dirty, gently rinse it off with water. If you can, try to stick it back in its socket. If not, put the tooth into a small container of milk or salt water and see your dentist as soon as possible. The overwhelming majority of teeth that can be reattached are done so within one hour of being knocked out.

*Abscessed tooth. An abscess is an infection that generally occurs in the root of your tooth. If untreated, the infection can get worse and be very painful. Wash your mouth with lightly salted water in the short term and see your dentist as soon as possible to prevent any longer term problems.

*Toothache. Use dental floss to remove any food that is lodged in your teeth. Take aspirin (do not put it directly on your gums) for the pain in the meantime and then see your dentist to diagnose and properly treat the problem.

*Soft-tissue injuries. If you are struck in the mouth, many times you can do damage to your gums, lips, cheeks or tongue. When this happens, you should wash out your mouth with lightly salted water. After this, use a piece of gauze to apply pressure to the bleeding sight. If the bleeding does not stop or the injury is extremely serious, you should visit an emergency room as soon as you can.

Dental emergencies can occur at any time. It is important to remember that modern dentistry has the tools to fix your problem and you should not panic. To learn more about how to handle a dental emergency, contact your Greenwood Village dentist.

by: Gen Wright

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