Dental Emergencies

Any time you face a dental injury, you need to learn what should be done in a short time. If you do this, that can avoid a lot of your pain and possibility of future problems. Your dentist can provide you helpful tips. If your dentist's phone number is displayed prominently in a public space in your home, any one in the family can get the needed information in a short time. And get yourself checked by the dentist at the earliest possible time.

Any painful or inflammatory condition in your mouth can be considered as a dental emergency. Accidental injury happened to your teeth, jaw, gum etc comes under this category. Infection, toothache, abscess etc can result in fever or swelling of the region. You can always reduce the worsening of such emergencies through sensible acts. Here are a list possible dental emergencies and the first aid you can provide before you get to a dentist.

Broken Filling

You may have to wait until a dentist appointment is available. In the meantime, you can fill the hole temporarily with any sugarless gum or wax. You can smooth out any rough edges with an emery board.

Loose cap

Any time a cap falls off, you can set it temporarily back in its place by inserting a piece of sugarless gum inside it. Make sure you see a dentist and set the cap back in place professionally in a short period of time. If you cause any delay in this, the cap may become useless as it can start to decay in a very short time, once it is loose.

Broken tooth

Take all the pieces of broken tooth to the dentist. In some cases, he may be able to bond all the pieces back again. If there is any wound in your cheek, lips, tongue etc, there may be broken pieces of tooth embedded in it. Even when the tooth pieces are lost, get yourself examined by your dentist at the earliest so that he can fix the nerve endings and teeth from becoming even more painful.

Knocked-out Tooth

Any time an adult tooth is fully knocked out of its socket, place the socket right back in its original socket or under your tongue so as to preserve it without damage. Instead of this you may wash or store the tooth in saline or milk. Never in water as it will spoil the tooth. Be careful not to scrub or touch the root area as it can ruin the cells there and reduce any chance of re-implantation of the tooth. Get to the dentist as soon as possible. Any delay in this can reduce the chance of successful re-implantation.

Bleeding

There is no need to worry about minor bleeding. In case it is a severe case of bleeding, use a teabag or gauze pad and keep on exerting pressure in the area and rush to the dentist.

Swelling

In case you find swelling on your face, lips, cheeks etc following any dental problems, this is a sure sign of some sort of infection. Even when the swelling is due to problems related to your eyes, throat, fever etc, you should seek immediate medical attention. You can rinse the area with a salt solution as well as use ice packs there.

Toothache

Toothache can be due to problems in any of the areas like tooth, gum, joints, jaw muscles etc. Applying heat or pain medications directly on the teeth is not at all advisable. You should adhere to the instructions given along with the medication. If the toothache sufferer is a child, get to the dentist as soon as possible.

Suspicion Of Jaw Fracture

Try to avoid jaw movement completely. This can be achieved by tying some cloth around your jaw and head. As this is a real emergency, you may go to an emergency room or go to your dentist immediately..