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How to Properly Handle a Dental Emergency
Dental emergencies can happen day or night. Sometimes people who experience dental emergencies fail to contact a dentist in a timely fashion because they assume that the office is closed and that there is no way to contact the dentist. Some dental offices have emergency services, which are extremely helpful when experiencing a dental emergency. Before contacting your dental professional, you will want to take the following precautions.
If you experience a tooth that has fallen out or have sustained an injury resulting in a large piece of a tooth breaking off, you will want to keep the tooth and or fragments. The American Dental Association suggests putting a lost tooth into milk to preserve it before seeing the dentist. This does not mean that you can hold off on getting a dental appointment, you should still consider this a dental emergency.
Sometimes infections can pop up with little warning. Gums can become inflamed and can result in an abscess. Inflamed, painful gums should be taken seriously, as an abscess can lead to serious systemic infection. If you feel like you might have an abscess, contact a dentist, but in the meantime, you will want to rinse the affected area with salt water, as this can reduce some pain and swelling.
Toothaches might seem minor to some, but in reality, they can be extremely painful in the jaw and face. If you experience a sudden toothache with intense pain, you should consider it an emergency and seek an emergency dental appointment. You should also clean the affected area with warm water and gently use dental floss to determine whether an object is lodged between your teeth and is causing the pain.
If you experience a dental emergency, contact the expert staff at Jason C. Croft, General Family Dentistry, day or night by calling (770) 536-8871.