How Do You Handle Common Dental Emergencies?

Most of us aren’t really aware of the things we need to do when we encounter a dental emergency. Hence, dental emergencies can sometimes turn out to be scary and cause people to panic. This article will discuss some of the most common dental emergencies that people face and what you need to do in such situations. By learning about these simple protocols, you can take steps to help a person or yourself in such a situation until you get them to an emergency dentist in Ajax, ON, for urgent dental care.

Everyday Injuries

Injuries to the soft tissues, such as your cheek, tongue, gums, or lips, are quite common. However, depending on how badly you injure them, they will start bleeding. Well, first things first, you will have to stop the bleeding, if there is any, by first rinsing your mouth with salt water before applying pressure on the injury site using a wet gauze. You can also hold something cold to the injury site to manage pain and control the bleeding. In any case, if the bleeding does not stop, you have to hurry to an emergency dental clinic immediately.

Aching Tooth

Toothaches can be really stressful and discomforting. You should begin by cleaning your mouth using warm water before looking for any lodged food particles between the teeth. Use dental floss to clean in between the teeth. Once the food particles are dislodged, you should feel some relief. If the pain does not go away and you notice swelling too, then you should use a cold compress to bring the situation under control. If the pain does not go away, you can use over-the-counter pain medication and visit a dentist at the earliest for urgent dental care.

Loose Wires and Broken Braces

If you notice a loose wire that is irritating your cheek, tongue, or some other tissue, you can use an eraser at the end of a pencil to push it into a more comfortable position. If you’re unable to push the wire into a bearable position, you should try and cover the loose end of the wire with a cotton ball or orthodontic wax to alleviate the irritation it’s causing. You should then get to an emergency dentist in Ajax, ON, as soon as possible to properly remedy the situation.

Knocked-out Tooth

If you are faced with a situation where you have a tooth knocked out, you should first of all pick up the tooth because if you get to a dentist immediately, there is a greater chance of saving that tooth. Nevertheless, clean the tooth with water but don’t scrub it and try placing it back into the socket. If you’re unable to place it back, just hold it in its place till you get an emergency dental clinic. Alternatively, you can put the tooth in a cup of milk and hurry to the dentist. Please note that you should never try to force the knocked-out tooth back into the socket. If you’re having trouble, just follow the above advice and reach a dentist at the earliest.

Losing a Crown

If you lose a dental crown for any reason, you should make an appointment with your dentist because he can get it back into place properly. However, you can apply clove oil over the affected area to relieve sensitivity for the time being. In some cases, it may be possible for you to simply place the crown back to its original position. You should apply over-the-counter dental cement or toothpaste first and then place the crown back to make sure it remains in its position. See a dentist as soon as possible.

Chipped or Broken Tooth

If you’ve chipped your tooth or broken a piece of it, first of all, gather the piece or pieces of your tooth. Your dentist may be able to bond back the broken piece back to your tooth. If you experience pain or bleeding, apply a cold compress. Hold gauze to the bleeding area for about ten minutes to effectively stop the bleeding. It will help if you rinse your mouth with warm water immediately after chipping or breaking your teeth to clean the damaged area.