You can encounter a dental emergency at any time, which can leave you feeling in pain and distressed. You often need to act promptly, and potentially visit an emergency dentist when the situation is serious. Here are some common emergency dental problems that you may have happen to you, and how you can handle them properly.
Toothaches
Toothaches can happen due to various oral health issues. This includes cracked teeth, gum disease, cavities, and more. Try rinsing out your mouth with salt water, and then take pain relief medication. If the pain doesn't go away or get better, reach out to a dentist to help deal with the problem immediately.
Chipped Tooth
A chipped tooth can cause you to experience a lot of pain, and also make that tooth more prone to decay. You'll want to have the tooth fixed as soon as possible, which can be done by using dental bonding to cover the exposed portions of the tooth. It is also possible that the trauma that caused a tooth to become chipped will require another dental procedure to fix it, such as a root canal if pain is persistent.
Knocked-Out Tooth
There are a few key things to remember when you have a tooth that was knocked out. You'll always want to touch the tooth by the crown, and never touch it by the roots. You should also preserve the tooth in either milk or your own saliva so that the tooth doesn't dry out. You'll then need to visit an emergency dentist as soon as possible to have the tooth reinserted into your mouth and have it reintegrate properly.
Lost Filling
A lost filling can end up causing you pain due to the exposed portions of the tooth. Try using a saltwater rinse or applying clove oil to the area if pain persists. It is best to visit a dentist immediately to have a new filling put in its place to protect the tooth from damage.
Abscess
A dental abscess is a type of infection that forms near the tooth's roots or within the gums. You'll want to have an abscess treated by a dentist immediately because you run the risk of the infection reaching other places of your body by traveling through the bloodstream. While pain relievers may be able to help you deal with the abscess, it is not a long-term solution to the problem.
