Kudos to you for reading this blog and proactively learning to handle a dental emergency! Indeed, experiencing a dental emergency can be both frightening and painful. With dental emergencies encompassing a wide range of situations, from a broken tooth to complete tooth loss, it’s essential to select a dentist in Port Coquitlam, BC, who will guide you throughout the process and guarantee top-notch care. Moreover, taking appropriate action in response to a dental emergency on your own also plays a crucial role.
Here are a few common dental emergencies and the best things to do following the incident:
Toothaches: Toothaches can be persistent and keep you from doing the things you love. The first thing to do is to rinse your mouth with warm water thoroughly. Then, gently dislodge any food caught between your teeth with dental floss. If your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek. Refrain from using aspirin or other painkillers against the gums because it may burn the gum tissue. See your local dentist in Port Coquitlam as soon as possible.
Chipped or broken teeth: If you can, save any pieces. Rinse your mouth and any broken pieces with warm water. If bleeding, apply gauze to the affected area for roughly 10 minutes or until the bleeding subsides. Keep any swelling down by using a cold compress outside the mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken or chipped tooth. Visit your nearest emergency dentist as soon as possible.
Knocked-out tooth: First, retrieve the tooth. Hold it by the crown, and rinse off the tooth root with water if dirty. Do not remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, replace the tooth, but never force it into the socket. If reinsertion is impossible, place the tooth in a small milk container or cup of water with a pinch of salt. See your dentist immediately.
Partially dislodged tooth: See your dentist right away. To relieve pain, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth, cheek, or nearest point to the affected area. You can also take an over-the-counter pain medication to dull the pain.
Lost filling: See your dentist immediately, but use a piece of sugarless gum to replace the filling temporarily.
Lost crown: If your crown falls off, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible and bring the crown with you. If you can’t see the dentist immediately, apply clove oil to the painful area with a cotton swab.
Broken braces and wires: If a wire breaks and pokes into your cheek, tongue, or gum, you can try using the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable position. See your dentist as soon as possible.
Abscess: Abscesses are infections that occur around the roots of teeth or in the spaces between teeth and gums. They are a serious implication that can damage tissue and nearby teeth. The infection may spread to the rest of the body if left untreated. See your dentist as soon as possible. However, before seeing your dentist, you can rinse your mouth with salt water to ease the pain.
