Dental emergencies happen when they are least expected. Accidents or falls can cause lose teeth or other dental issues cropping up due to a loose dental crown or implant are all something that should be taken care of with help from a dentist at the earliest. Many of the emergencies could also be a signal towards other complications for e.g. A toothache which is quite common might be signaling towards other dental problems that need to be checked at the clinic. Knowing how to handle common dental emergencies will help the problem from escalating.
Broken Teeth/ Fractured teeth
This is one of the major dental emergencies that need immediate dental care. Broken teeth or fractured teeth can result when a person falls or when engaged in contact sports or even by chewing on hard food. This can result in a portion of the teeth being chipped off or broken. This causes pain but is not severe. Though this does not cause a threat to the health of the person, the pain felt can progress if the condition worsens. Another situation is a serious tooth fracture where a major portion of the teeth is lost. This causes immense pain and needs to be treated immediately. When this happens, if possible, keep the broken piece of the teeth in a safe place after rinsing it with warm water. If there is any bleeding, keep a gauze pressed to the location or keep a cold compress on the part of the cheek. This will bring comfort and also bring down swelling if any.
Toothache
Pain in the teeth or mouth can be caused if there is any food stuck between the teeth. It can also be a sign of other underlying dental problems or infections in the oral region. If it is because of food being stuck between the teeth, removing it gently if possible, will bring down the pain. Excess pressure must not be applied to pull it out. This can cause a portion of the food to break away and remain between the teeth and bring in more pain. Sharp or pointed objects also should be used to remove the food that is stuck. Flossing can be done carefully to try and dislodge the food. In the meantime, reducing the pain is possible by applying a cold compress. Applying any medication or lotion on the area of the pain is not advised as it might cause an adverse reaction.
Lost dental filling
Due to decay some might need a dental filling. It is also noticed that sometimes these fillings can become dislocated. Dental fillings are a restorative procedure that is done to keep the teeth safe from infection. If the filling is lost then there are high chances of infection in the site. Pain is also felt when the filling is dislodged. If the filling is swallowed by mistake, there is no reason to panic, more care should be given to placing a new filling to remove the potential infection. If bacterial infection begins in the site, then the decay can spread to neighbouring teeth. There are temporary fillings available in the market that can be used to protect the area. Care can also be taken to not chew on the side of the lost filling. After consuming food and drinks, cleansing the mouth will help in removing any food particles from remaining in the mouth and causing infection.
Knocked-out teeth
When teeth get knocked out it is important to save the teeth. If possible after cleaning, it should be placed in the same place from where it came out from. Care should also be taken to try and not touch the root portion of the teeth. If it is a child’s teeth that have come out, do not keep it back in their place. If that is not possible then it can be kept in the area between the cheek and gums or it can also be kept immersed in milk. The main aspect is that the teeth should be kept moist till the time dentist is not present to treat the damage. Knocked-out teeth can also cause bleeding and pain. If that is the case, then the mouth should be rinsed properly to remove blood and swelling and pain can be reduced by keeping a cold compress on the cheeks.
Soft tissue injury
Soft tissue injury refers to the injury to the mouth, cheeks, lips, tongue etc. Injury to these parts can be caused due to accidents, falling, blow to the face or sports injury. Care must be taken to clean the mouth to remove any debris. This can be done by washing the mouth with warm water. Rinsing it with saline water will also help to cut down any chances of infection in the mouth. If there is bleeding, a cloth should be applied firmly to the area to stop further bleeding. Usually, bleeding will be seen immediately after the injury but will subside slowly. If the bleeding does not stop, then it is a sign that there are more serious issues that need to be taken care of. Some will also need stitches at the site of injury to stop further bleeding. This will be done by the dentist after checking the person.
Mouth infection
A tooth abscess is an oral infection in the area between the gums and the tooth roots. This is accompanied by pain and also zits in the area of infection. Untreated infection can spread rapidly in the mouth and bring in decay. There are also chances of trigger other life-threatening diseases due to the infection spreading to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Pain is severe in this case and it becomes difficult for the person to consume food as moving the mouth brings in pressure to the area of infection. The mouth should be rinsed several times a day to bring down the pain and cut down the infection rate. As soon as possible, an appointment with the dentist must be obtained to treat this.
