BAD ORAL HYGIENE AND ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF DENTAL EMERGENCIES.
Firstly, poor oral hygiene, such as not brushing or flossing twice daily and not seeing your dentist annually, results in harmful bacteria living in your mouth, destroying the enamel on your tooth and ‘eating’ its way inside causing a cavity. When you feel a ‘toothache’ the bacteria has reached the pulp chamber and the nerve-laden root canal area.
Unattended, the situation worsens. If left unchecked the bacteria present in your mouth can have a detrimental effect to your general health.. The consequences of this could be gum disease, heart complications, and could even be fatal in immunocompromised patients. The loss of teeth can contribute to reduced chewing capacity which also effects your general health.
Good oral hygiene can prevent this. Any potential issues with your teeth, gums, tongue or mouth can be picked up by your dentist before they become problems. An early filling is much less expensive than emergency dental treatments.
DENTAL INJURY AND TRAUMA
The second dental emergency results from injury or trauma. The usual injuries are:
- Teeth being knocked out, forced out of position or fractured.
- Lips, gums or cheeks are often cut as well. All places where infection can get into your bloodstream.
HOW QUICKLY SHOULD I SEE A DENTIST IF I HAVE A TRAUMA INJURY TO MY MOUTH?
If you want to save your tooth, go immediately!
MY TOOTH WAS KNOCKED OUT! WHAT SHOULD I DO?
- Make an emergency appointment with your dentist.
- There are cells on the root of the tooth which are necessary for bone reattachment, so only handle the tooth by the crown.
- Rinse the tooth gently to remove dirt. Don’t scrub the tooth and avoid the root.
- It is vital the tooth doesn’t dry out so, if possible, gently put the clean tooth back in the socket or you can hold it in your mouth. If not, then wrap the tooth in clean gauze and immerse it in milk in a sealed container and take it to the dentist.
MY TOOTH WAS KNOCKED OUT OF POSITION. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
- Make an emergency appointment with your dentist.
- Gently, with a light touch, attempt to reposition the tooth to its normal alignment. Do not force it and then bite down very gently in order to hold it in place.
My tooth is fractured. What should I do?
- Make an emergency appointment as only a dentist can assess the level of damage and the required treatment.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Reduce the swelling with an ice pack or cold compress.
- Use ibuprofen if you are in pain, NOT aspirin which is an anti-coagulant and may cause excessive bleeding.
- Treat the tooth with care.
THE INSIDE OF MY MOUTH WAS DAMAGED. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If your lips, tongue or cheek have been torn, punctured, or lacerated, clean the wound immediately with warm water and take the injured person to the hospital emergency room. These kinds of injuries need medical, rather than dental attention.
Make sure you have your dentist’s contact number on you at all times and don’t hesitate to call if there is a dental emergency. If you don’t have a dentist, contact your local Team Dental today for an appointment.
