subject: Understand Your Dental Emergency Risk This Summer Season [print this page] In honor of emergency awareness for the month of June, your dentist in Grosse Pointe urges you to take extra precautions this summer in order to avoid dental emergencies. Summer generates frequent parties, and outdoor activities-allowing people to have fun in the sun. This season, while you are outside enjoying the beautiful summer sun and heat, be sure to take extra precautions to avoid dental emergencies. It is important to educate yourself on what to do incase an emergency does arise because being prepared is better than not knowing at all. When a dental emergency does occur, it is important to visit your Grosse Pointe dentist immediately. Visiting her office within 30 minutes can often mean the difference between saving your tooth and losing it.
Handling Emergencies While Away from Home
For many people, summer is a time to hop in the car for a road trip, or book a flight to the nearest beach destination. Unfortunately, you can't take a vacation from dental emergencies, but you can be prepared. If disaster strikes when you are far from home being prepared and remaining calm can make all the difference.
No one wants to have their trip ruined by a toothache, so to minimize your risk of a dental emergency while on vacation, visit your Grosse Pointe dentist for a check-up before you leave for travel. Schedule your appointment in advance to allow for enough time to complete any necessary dental work needed before your departure date. It is always important to be well prepared for your trip and a dental check-up will help.
Before you leave on your trip, tend to any decayed teeth, broken fillings, and other dental problems. Make sure you inform your dentist of your travel plans and ask about any other potential dental issues that may occur while out of the country. Have your teeth cleaned by your dentist, especially if you have periodontal disease.
While on your trip, if you are experiencing a throbbing tooth, or a toothache, brush and floss your teeth. Your pain could simply be a piece of food that is lodged in an uncomfortable spot. After brushing and flossing if your tooth still hurts try to stick to soft foods and try an over-the-counter pain reliever until you can visit a dentist. However, be sure not to place the pain reliever right on your gums, and do not apply heat.
Understanding Other Dental Emergencies
When an emergency occurs, it is important to visit your dentist immediately. Getting to your dentist within 30 minutes can make the difference between saving and losing your tooth. If your tooth is knocked out it is important to handle the knocked out tooth by the crown and not the root. Touching the root can easily damage cells necessary for bone reattachment.
Gently rinse your tooth in water to remove any dirt that may be on it, but do not scrub it. If possible, gently place your clean tooth in the socket to keep it moist, as it is important to not let it dry out. If you cannot store the tooth in your mouth, wrap the tooth in clean gauze and immerse it in milk or saliva.
Contact your dentist in Grosse Pointe, MI for more information on how to properly care for your teeth during a dental emergency. Your dentist can also provide you with tips on how to properly prevent emergencies from occurring so that you can enjoy your entire summer.
