What really is considered a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is characterized by sudden swelling, pain, and a huge amount of discomfort. On a general note, it is important that you understand oral health problems rarely fix themselves and don’t just go away quickly. If you have swelling, knots, or bulges on your gums, that may also need urgent attention.
If I have a toothache; what are my options for relief?
If a severe throbbing has just woken you up from your sleep, you can brush and floss the teeth in order to dislodge any food fragments that might have been stuck between the teeth. You can use aspirin to help relieve the pain but be careful not to put it directly against the gum where you are experiencing the pain. If the pain refuses to go away after a few days, call you’re the surgery, you may need an extraction.
You can also consider some home remedies like using clove oil and garlic on the affected teeth. However, this can only provide temporary relief, so you will still need to call your dentist.
What should you do for a knocked-out tooth?
When you find yourself in such a situation as this, you should immediately go to your emergency dentist, and avoid touching the tooth. Gently hold the crown of the tooth and carefully rinse it in water so as to prevent further damage to the root. You need to protect the root by ensuring you keep the tooth intact, so don’t try to scrub it.
If it’s possible, gently try to insert the root back in the socket, but if this is not what you can do, just put the tooth in a cup of milk or water to keep it wet.
What happens if I lose a tooth filling?
If you suddenly lose a filling, give your dentist a call to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. While you are waiting, you can reach out for dental cement at your grocery or pharmacy stores to help as a temporary gap. You can also cover the cavity with sugar-free gum, but ensure you are choosing a sugar-free gum because introducing sugar into the area around the cavity can cause severe pain.