Have you ever had a dental emergency occur? If not, you are pretty lucky. If you have, then you know how scary it can be and a simple wrong move can quickly cause you to lose your teeth. Dental emergencies are common and they can happen for a variety of reasons. Many of the cases we see here at C S Family Dental are due to severe tooth decay, trauma to the tooth, and even sports accidents. If you have experienced any of these or you think that you have an emergency, contact C S Family Dental now.
Tips for Handling Dental Emergencies
When a dental emergency occurs, you are likely going to panic. This is because you are scared and you are worried that the situation is much worse than it may look. When it comes to a dental emergency, you need to handle them with care and ease to ensure that no additional damage is caused.
Here are some tips to help you when it comes to dental emergencies of all types:
- If you happen to bite your lip, cheek, or tongue, you want to clean the area gently with some warm water. You can apply pressure with gauze, if the area is bleeding a lot. Once the bleeding is under control, apply a cold compress to the site.
- If you have knocked out a permanent tooth, you want to keep the tooth moist no matter what. You can place the tooth back into the socket it came out of or you can place it in a cup of milk. You can also place the tooth between your cheek and gums to help keep it moist. You need to head into our office right away.
- If you have something that is stuck in your mouth, you want to try to remove it with floss first. If this does not work, contact our office. You do NOT want to try to use pointy or sharp objects to remove it.
- If you have a cracked or fractured tooth, you should rinse your mouth out with lukewarm water. Place a cold compress over the area, if it is sensitive or swollen.
- If you have a toothache, you should rinse your mouth with warm water and then try to floss your teeth to remove any residue that may be stuck. If the pain persists, please call our office.
If you are unable to come into our office for any reason and you are experiencing a dental emergency, we recommend that you head over to your local emergency room.
Avoid Injuries to Your Teeth
Sometimes a dental emergency happens without any warning, but there are times that you can avoid injuries. Dr. Alex Sohn wants you to know that you do not have to simply risk injuring your teeth to do the things you love the most. In fact, check out his tips to help you protect your teeth:
- NEVER use your teeth to open objects and rely on scissors to do that for you
- ALWAYS wear a mouth guard when you play sports or engage in any type of recreational activities
- AVOID chewing on popcorn kernels, chewy and hard candies, and ice
At C S Family Dental, we do have SAME day emergency dental appointments reserved for emergencies that may arise. We want you to contact us the moment that you realize there is a problem and we will work hard to help alleviate your pain as quickly as possible.
What-If Situations
Dr. Alex Sohn wants you to feel comfortable handling any dental emergency that might arise while you are out and about or enjoying your time at home. It is vital that you always remain calm and call our office as soon as you realize there is a problem. Below, we want to provide you with some what-if scenarios to help you know what to do if the problem arises.
What steps should I take if I believe I broke my jaw?
A broken jaw is a serious dental emergency that needs to be handled immediately. If you believe that your jaw is broken, do not try to move it on your own. You should apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Always call our office right away to schedule your same day appointment.
What can I do to alleviate my tooth pain?
It is important that you never place any objects onto your teeth without prior approval from Dr. Sohn. You can take over the counter pain relievers to help dull down the pain, but do not try to wiggle, move, or touch the affected tooth as this will only cause the pain to intensify.
What should I do if my child’s tooth is knocked out and lost in the yard?
If your child’s tooth is knocked out at school or during a sports activity, you should try to recover it. If it is their baby tooth, there is not as much emphasis placed on it, but if it is a permanent tooth, you need to try to find it.
Once you find the tooth, avoid touching the roots, as this can lead to the death of the tooth. You want to place the tooth either in the socket or in a cup of milk and head straight to our office. Dr. Sohn will go over your options with you while you are here.
What if my child’s braces break?
If your child’s braces become detached or break, you need to call our office right away. You do not want to pull them off or try to move the around, as this can cause more damage. When your child comes into our office, we will evaluate the situation and offer alternatives to correct the problem.
Contact C S Family Dental Now for a FREE Evaluation
If you think that you have a dental emergency or you think that you need to have your teeth checked for any dental problems, contact C S Family Dental now to schedule a FREE consultation or checkup with Dr. Alex Sohn.
