When people talk about first aid, they’re usually overlooking one crucial part of the body. Dental emergencies happen, and knowing the proper first aid steps to take when they do can save your tooth. There’s a lot of old wives’ tales out there about how to properly take care of these events when they do happen, and we’d like to clear a few of those up. In the following document, we’ll touch on a few of the most frequent dental emergencies, what to do, and who to call when they happen. With this guide, you’ll be ready to handle anything that comes along.
Loose Teeth
Don’t think loose teeth are a dental emergency? Once we’re past our tenth year, we should never have an experience involving loose teeth. If you’ve had an accident and discovered that your teeth are loose afterward, you want to take immediate action. Start by calling your dentist, and find out if a trip to the emergency room or their office is in order. In many cases, you may be met at the ER by your dentist, who will also check to ensure your jaw isn’t broken.
Lost Tooth
In cases where you’ve had a tooth knocked out, the first thing you want to do is pick it up and rinse it off. Your first move should be to attempt to place the tooth back in your mouth, ensuring you have it facing the right direction. If you can’t, put it in a glass of milk until you reach the dentist. If this isn’t possible, then tuck it between your gum and teeth, where it can remain moist until you reach the dentist’s office. Your tooth will need to be put back in place within 30 minutes if you want it to be saved.
Dental Pain
If you’re experiencing tooth pain, then there are a few steps to take. It starts by determining how much pain you’re actually in. If the pain happens when you bite down, there’s a good chance you have a cracked tooth or possibly an abscess. Mild pain can be addressed with Tylenol, which also helps reduce inflammation. Extreme pain merits a trip to the ER to get relief, and the tooth looked at.
Infections
There is no case where an infection in your body is a good thing. An infection in your mouth is serious enough to be called a dental emergency. To address this concern, you’re going to want to take an over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol that will help to alleviate the pain until the dentist can see you.
These are just a few of the dental emergencies you may encounter in your day to day life. When they occur, you’re now prepared to take immediate action until your dentist can see you and help resolve them permanently. If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, pick up the phone and call Fox Valley Dental. Our team of professionals, led by Dr. Bob Dokhanchi, will help you by ensuring the proper first aid steps have been taken. They’ll then help you schedule an appointment to ensure your oral health is in good hands.
