Would you know what to do in the event of a dental emergency? Although you are not a professional dentist, your response can mean the difference between losing a tooth and saving a tooth. And you also need to know what constitutes an actual dental emergency, or something that can wait for a regular appointment.
Severe Tooth Pain
Severe tooth pain almost always qualifies as a dental emergency, since it typically means that a tooth has experienced trauma or there is a serious tooth infection occurring.
One common cause of severe tooth pain is a dental abscess that can reach to the root of the tooth. Or anything involving the dental pulp found at the center of a tooth. Even though the outer surfaces of your tooth are strong, the inner parts are extremely soft and delicate. Dental pulp contains numerous nerve endings and blood vessels. An infection here is very serious and requires immediate attention. Contact your dentist whenever you experience severe tooth pain.
Cracked or Broken Teeth
Rinse your mouth out carefully using warm water after noticing that you have a cracked or broken tooth. Put a compress or ice pack on the side of your face next to the injury. If you are experiencing pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Call us right away. You may need anything from a dental filling to a root canal or a dental crown.
Bleeding Gums
Experiencing bleeding gums is somewhat of a special case when it comes to dental emergencies. Although this is certainly a cause for concern, it is not always a situation that requires immediate dental care. And bleeding comes can sometimes be caused by overly vigorous brushing and flossing. If you only experience gums that bleed infrequently, it may fall into this category.
Where bleeding gums becomes a more serious concern is when it involves some type of mouth trauma or potential gum disease. One of the most frequent symptoms of gum disease is gums that bleed easily. If this is the case with you, you should contact your dentist at your earliest convenience to schedule an appointment. Mention your experience with your gums bleeding and have it checked out.
On the other hand, if your gums are bleeding because you recently experienced some type of mouth trauma – such as a vehicle accident or sports activity – contact your dentist right away so that they can have a look at your teeth, mouth and gums.
Preventing Injuries
If you play sports, always wear a mouthguard
Visit your dentist regularly for checkups
Brush and floss daily
Keep your dentist's emergency number on hand
Request More Information
If you would like to receive additional information about dental emergencies, please contact our office so that we can provide you with additional resources about the various types of dental emergencies and how to handle them until you can receive emergency dental care.