Your oral health is extremely important and plays a huge role in your overall quality of life. Problems can interfere with your ability to eat, sleep, drink fluids, and even just enjoy the moment.
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, you need to address the problem with an emergency dentist right away. Unsure if you’re in the middle of an emergency? Keep reading to find out.
Dealing with Dental Pain
If you’re experiencing unexplainable pain, that could be a dental emergency. The key word here is “unexplainable.” There are times when pain is an unfortunate (but expected) side effect that doesn’t need to be addressed.
For example, pain is expected if you’ve just had a tooth extracted, your braces adjusted, or dental implants fitted. However, if this pain persists for more than 72 hours OR there doesn’t seem to be a justifiable reason to be in pain, give our dental emergency team a call.
Addressing Swelling and Bleeding
Any kind of unexpected swelling in your jaw or on your gums is considered a dental emergency. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it could be a sign of infection which can be extremely dangerous to your overall health. Tooth abscess can be under the surface or appear as pimples on the gums. This is no joke and you should reach out to a professional soon.
And contrary to popular belief, your gums shouldn’t bleed when you floss. This could be an indicator of gum disease and you should book a dentist appointment. However, we will only consider bleeding gums an emergency if the bleeding is excessive and takes a long time to stop, or has persisted for several days.
What to Do if an Object is Stuck
Have you ever had a popcorn kernel stuck between your teeth? It’s more painful than one might think! Foreign objects lodged between teeth can become dental emergencies if neglected for too long. Before picking up the phone with your dentist, see if you can remove the object yourself. Use floss gently on the area and try to dislodge whatever is in there.
However, if you cannot remove the item after a few days, get in touch with your dentist. Foreign objects can develop into tooth decay or cause an infection.
Managing a Lost Filling
If your filling falls out you need to head over to the dentist immediately. Even if there’s no pain (but there probably will be), a lost filling messes with the structural integrity of your tooth. There’s now a lack of reinforcement, so your tooth is more susceptible to chips or cracks. In extreme cases, you may even have exposed nerves which is incredibly painful.
Handling a Broken Tooth
If your tooth does break, get in touch with your dentist. Our teeth are constantly under pressure, so one small chip could end up breaking in several places, completely damaging your tooth. A broken tooth can also cut up your gums and lips, so make sure you address the issue right away.
Dealing with a Knocked-Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth needs to be addressed by a dentist IMMEDIATELY. Pick up the phone and call right away. Find your lost tooth if you can and put it in some milk. You should see your dentist within 60 minutes. Any longer, and you could lose the tooth forever.
Call Life Dentistry @ 780-758-5433 if you need help immediately. You can also book an appointment here.
