Common signs you need help ASAP are profuse bleeding from the mouth, a fever because of an infection, or complications from recent oral surgery.
Emergency Dental 101
A dental emergency can happen to anyone. Adults may experience a situation that they immediately recognize as an emergency, but a child may not. It is important to stay calm when you realize the only option is to get to a dentist fast. If you or your child sustain trauma to more than just your teeth or gums, it is essential to seek out emergency medical care.
What to Do Before You Get to a “24-Hour Emergency Dentist Near Me”
You want to avoid your situation getting worse. Before you get to an emergency dentist, here are some things you can do:
- Stay Calm – Lowering your stress level will make it easier for the treatment you will require. Dental anxiety can often be avoided by taking deep breaths or using distractions like listening to music.
- Cold Therapy – When you chip a tooth you can experience severe pain. This pain comes from an exposure of the tooth’s root due to a large portion of your tooth breaking off. When chipping a tooth, the first thing you should do is rinse your mouth with warm water then apply pressure to the injured area with a cold compress. The cold reduces swelling while the pressure aids in halting bleeding.
- Immersion – If your tooth dislodges completely from its socket, you should rinse it with water especially if it landed in dirt. Place the tooth in water, milk or saline solution and try to get to the dentist within half an hour. Your emergency dentist in SW Calgary may be able to save the tooth and put it back in its socket.
- Smoothing Out and Fitting Back – When a dental appliance breaks it can poke at you from all angles leaving bits in your mouth or throat. This can become a dangerous situation in the event something gets lodged in your airways. Avoid consuming food and beverage before getting to the dentist. For rough edges, try applying candle wax to the broken part. This can help smooth it out. Your dentist will check for broken bits and may be able to repair the device. In the case of a broken denture, you will likely need to be fitted for a new piece.
Other Common Dental Emergencies
- Extreme decay
- Excessive bleeding gums caused by periodontitis
- Injured Mouth
- Unexplainable toothache
How to Avoid Dental Emergencies
Sometimes dental emergencies can be avoided. Try some of the following actions to steer clear of booking an emergency dental appointment.
Bad Habits
Bad habits such as opening items with your teeth can lead to a dental emergency. Also, forgetting to or avoiding the use of protective gear while engaging in sporting events or other strenuous activities can be risky for your teeth. All it takes is a hard fall against the ground or a hockey puck to the face to send you to an emergency dentist. The results can be less severe when wearing protective barriers.
Take Care of Your Oral Health
Keep brushing and flossing your teeth to avoid dental problems. Emergency dental is often the result of an underlying oral health issue due to negative care of your precious pearly whites.
Eat Healthy
A nutritious, balanced diet can aid in keeping your mouth healthy. You are what you eat is a true phrase so eat wisely. Choose things that are gentle on your teeth and add vitamins into your body. Consider eating more kale and berries as they are high in vitamin c which is needed to keep your gum tissue strong and healthy.
Visit the Dentist Regularly
Getting consistent dental checkups and having your teeth cleaned every 6 months to a year helps you maintain a healthy mouth. Your dentist also has the professional tools required to see if anything abnormal is occurring so it can be fixed before it becomes an emergency dental issue. Cleaning removes the plaque and tartar that cause a host of oral health concerns.
Common Non-Emergency Dental Situations
If you suspect a problem with your teeth or jaw, call your dentist to get advice or help. Bear in mind that not all situations require a visit to the emergency dentist. Here are some things that can be addressed at your regular check-up.
- Stained teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Crowded teeth
Good Dental Health is Possible
Your emergency dentist in SW Calgary will be impressed with your due diligence when you take proper measures to avoid complicated dental situations. At Glenbrook Dental, we are fully equipped to handle any dire oral health concern whether you are in pain or just know something is off. Let us take care of you any time or day.