Emergencies know no timing and in the dental realms, these emergencies bear the extra burden of excruciating pain. For instance, your teeth, gum or mouth structures may be in serious pain which cannot wait for the regular dental office hours. The pain may result from knocked out teeth, fractures or loose teeth alongside cuts in gums or lips which are just few among the numerous occurrences commonly referred to as dental emergencies. Urgency is paramount in such oral emergencies as thirty minutes is enough to determine whether you will become toothless or not.
Should You Wait?
Owed to the sharp rise in serious oral emergencies and the fatalities pinned to them, dental experts have been prompted to offer their services round the clock. You should always remember that delaying dental problems or avoiding them increase the chances of permanent damage significantly hence making it a more costly affair as time progresses. It would therefore be in your best interest to always have an emergency dentist’s number on speed dial just in case.
What To Do
During dental emergencies, it is always advisable to first call a qualified dentist to enlighten you on the steps and measures to take immediately. In dire cases, the professional will instantly book an appointment to curb the situation but if the injuries can wait, you should be booked for normal office hours. You may also be equipped with essential D.I.Y tips to help ease the usually nagging pain or get prescription over the phone.
Minimize The Damage
Contrary to common belief washing a knocked out tooth using water after an injury is not advisable. In fact, you are advised to suck it and place it in your cheeks or hold it in its socket until you get to the dentist’s clinic for preservation purposes. Also use salty water to rinse your mouth in case a tooth breaks and no pain is felt. This goes a long way in disinfecting the area before medical attention is issued. In case of swelling, use ice cubes or packs to mitigate the effects.
Avoid Emergencies
As the common mantra goes, prevention is always better that cure. It is hence of paramount essence to not only remain aware of the importance of oral hygiene, but to also take the necessary steps to prevent against injuries and oral related problems. Visiting your dentist on a regular basis for instance will keep your teeth in top notch condition at all times hence avoiding unwanted future problems. Also contact your dentist immediately you identify a problem within your mouth. Waiting until the problem gets out of hand not only extend the amount of damage but also makes it more costly in regards to treatment. Those involved in risky sporting activities would probably want to wear helmets or mouth guards at all times.
It is important to note that any unusual pain experienced in the mouth should be carried as a dental emergency. The thing about tooth or gum injuries is that even the slightest damage has the potential to extensively damage your nerves which eventually leads to tooth loss. Book an appointment today and visit your local dentist for a much needed check-up and while at it, remember to enquire if he/she is among the after-hours dentists in case of any future emergency.
