What to do in case of a dental emergency?

A dental emergency is any dental issue that requires immediate attention.

Dental emergencies often cause pain, and extreme pain may indicate that an infection is present. If you experience a dental emergency, it’s important to seek treatment quickly to avoid additional complications.

How to prevent dental emergencies?

The best way to avoid dental emergencies is to maintain excellent dental health. Brushing and flossing your teeth, as well as regular dental exams, will help keep your teeth healthy and strong.

However, accidents do happen. If you experience pain or injury in your teeth or gums, contact our dental office immediately.

What to do in case of a dental emergency?

• Aching tooth

If you are experiencing pain, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your emergency dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can rinse your mouth with warm water to remove excess debris and bacteria. Also, you can gently floss around the affected area to remove any food particles that may be causing the pain.

Pain is often a sign that something is wrong, so identifying the cause of your pain and treating it conservatively can save you time and money.

A toothache is often caused by an infection in or around your tooth. Your emergency dentist will take an x-ray of your tooth to determine the location of the infection. If he or she suspects an abscess, you may need a root canal.

• Aching jaw

If you experience an aching jaw, you may be suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMD). This disorder can cause chronic pain in your jaw, face, neck, and head.

Common causes include:

• Grinding your teeth
• Clenching your teeth
• Stress
• Trauma
• A misaligned bite
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Call your dentist and schedule an appointment immediately if you experience an aching jaw. 

• Broken tooth

A broken tooth can happen for a number of reasons, including sports injuries, chewing on hard foods, or even biting down too hard on your toothbrush. If you break a tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water. Use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Then, call the dentist immediately. They may be able to fit you in on the same day.

Your dentist will likely recommend a dental crown. This will cover the tooth, protecting it from further damage.

• Chipped tooth

If tooth chips, call your dentist. If you can, save the tooth fragment that broke off. Rinse the mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to minimize swelling.

• Knocked out tooth

If a tooth is knocked out, recover it and call your dentist right away. Do not touch the roots of the tooth. Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to minimize swelling. If you can, place the tooth back in its socket, being careful not to touch the root of the tooth. If you can’t, place the tooth in a container with milk and bring it with you to your dentist.

Have our team examine your smile as soon as possible. Sometimes, it’s possible to re-implant a tooth that was knocked out, but it’s important to see a dentist as soon as possible.

• Objects caught between teeth

Objects caught between teeth can lead to serious problems. For example, a popcorn kernel can get stuck in your teeth. If that kernel is big enough to wedge between your teeth, it can be difficult to remove on your own.

Other items that can get stuck between teeth include small toys, hard candies, and nuts. Fortunately, objects caught between teeth can typically be removed by a dentist.

• Broken jaw

If you experience a broken jaw, you should seek immediate medical attention. You can rinse your mouth with salt water to help alleviate discomfort. You should also apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.

A dental emergency is stressful, but panicking will not help you in any way. Stay calm, contact your dentist immediately and explain what happened.

Visit Mission Creek Family Dentistry at 9460 Cuyamaca St #101, Santee, CA 92071. Contact us at (619) 596-1128 or schedule an appointment online.