Despite our best efforts, dental emergencies do occasionally occur. If this happens, you may not be sure whether to call a dentist immediately or wait to schedule an appointment. Sadly, some dental emergencies happen during the festive season and can ruin your nice time with friends and loved ones.
Check out some of the emergency dentistry festive season hazards:
1. Severe toothache
Toothaches typically indicate severe issues like infection or deterioration. Rinsing with either cold or warm water can provide temporary relief depending on the type of toothache. It is advised to use over-the-counter medicines until you can make a consultation appointment with your dentist. Besides, severe unexplained may lead to the sudden need for root canal treatment, which is best performed at the dentist’s office.
2. Knocked-out tooth
If trauma or accident leads to a knocked-out tooth, you don’t have much time to spend. If the tooth receives emergency care within two hours of being knocked out, it can get repaired back into its socket.
In this situation, gently rinse the teeth in saline or saltwater to remove any visual material or blood. Set up an appointment with an emergency dentist after placing the tooth in a small container filled with saliva if you don’t have access to saline.
3. Impaired braces
Your tongue, cheeks, or gums could be poked or scraped if a wire in your braces has broken or fallen loose. This necessitates contacting a local dentist for emergency dental care. You might try covering the wire end with gauze or a little cotton ball as a stopgap. Once the wire has been stopped from causing more harm, make an emergency consultation as soon as possible.
4. Tooth injury
A tooth injury is any damage to a tooth or the jaw as a whole. The tooth could become loose or even be knocked out of place due to an injury. Injuries of the oral cavity from Christmas light burns are common during festivities and require immediate attention. If this occurs, get prompt dental care or call an emergency dentist.
5. Abscess
Bacteria in the mouth are dangerous, mainly those close to a tooth’s root or in the gap between a person’s teeth and gums. They can spread to other teeth, nearby gum tissue, and the entire body if left untreated.
Are you unsure whether you have an abscess? Look for a painful, swelling, pimple-like area on your gums. Apply ice to the swollen area and rinse your mouth with a gentle water solution and visit your dentist.
6. Lost filling or crown
Crowns and fillings restore previously harmed teeth to their optimal aesthetics and functionality. Take care of this as soon as they break to stop further damage or reinfection. Fill the fracture with sugar-free gum to prevent further damage to the tooth, but do not try to fix it yourself. While you are waiting for emergency dental care, try this temporary solution.
Final thoughts
Regular dentist visits are the best approach to maintaining oral health. However, knowing which dental crises happen the most frequently and how to handle them is ideal. Above are great examples of emergency dentistry hazards to beware of this festive season.