Emergency Dental Care - Why You Should See an Emergency Dentist

Many of us use our teeth as a convenient tool to open pesky packages and bottles. While this may seem like a good idea, it can actually lead to dental emergencies.

A dental emergency needs immediate care to reduce pain and prevent complications. Some common dental emergencies include a severe toothache, displaced tooth, or knocked out tooth.

Toothache

A toothache is a clear sign that something is wrong with your mouth or teeth. Whether it is a dull or sharp pain, you should see your emergency dental care Floyds Knobs IN immediately for dental diagnosis and treatment. Over-the-counter pain relievers can provide short-term relief while you wait to see your dentist.

If your tooth pain lasts more than a day or gets worse, it could indicate that the problem is more serious. Swelling around the affected area is another sign that you have a tooth or gum infection. A fever or bad taste in the mouth also indicate a possible infection.

Rinsing the mouth with salt water can help kill bacteria that are causing the infection and a cold compress on the cheek can reduce swelling. Thyme oil can also be used to reduce inflammation and soothe the pain. If you have lost a tooth, rinse the root with water or milk and place it back in its socket to avoid permanent damage.

Broken Tooth

A broken tooth can occur in many ways, from chewing on ice or hard candy to a falling accident. It can also be caused by a cavity or teeth grinding and clenching, which puts excessive pressure on weakened teeth.

If a tooth is chipped or broken, the dentist can often fix it with dental bonding, a dental filling, or a veneer. The dentist may recommend a root canal treatment if the break exposes sensitive nerves.

A cracked or broken tooth can be painful and sometimes difficult to diagnose, especially if the pain is intermittent and hard to pinpoint. Knocking out or displacing a permanent tooth is a dental emergency, and the dentist must be contacted immediately to try to reimplant the tooth. If the tooth is able to be repositioned, rinse it and place it in milk or saliva (spit into a cup, not water) until the dentist can see you. Press gently on the tooth and mouth to stop any bleeding.

Displaced Tooth

If a tooth has become dislodged from its socket -- known as luxation or avulsion -- it can be treated by an emergency dentist. This is a dental emergency because the tooth may become severely damaged and infected if not promptly repositioned and stabilized.

Displaced teeth can occur due to trauma like car accidents or sports injuries, but they can also happen in cases of bruxism (teeth grinding). Fortunately, unlike a fully knocked-out tooth, a partially dislodged tooth has a better prognosis as long as it is repositioned quickly.

To treat a displaced tooth, first find the tooth and gently rinse it with water to remove dirt and debris. Then, carefully reinsert the tooth into its socket and hold it in place. If that's not possible, place the tooth in milk or saliva and bring it with you to the dentist. Control bleeding by applying pressure to the area and taking over-the-counter pain relief, if needed.

Swollen Gums

Swollen gums are often a sign that something is wrong with the mouth. They can be a warning signal of gingivitis, but they can also be a sign of other health issues such as diabetes or vitamin deficiencies. It is important to visit your emergency dental care in Floyds Knobs IN as soon as you notice swollen gums because ignoring them could lead to more serious problems in the future.

A salt water rinse can help relieve swollen gums by reducing bacteria in the mouth and soothing the tissue. You can make a rinse by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water and rinsing it in your mouth for 30 seconds. You can repeat this twice a day for relief.

Swollen gums can also be relieved by applying a warm and cold compress to the area. You can make a warm compress by soaking a clean washcloth in warm water and placing it against your face. You can use a cold compress by wrapping a frozen washcloth in a towel and holding it against your face for 10 minutes.