How to Avoid Common Pitfalls during Dental Emergencies
Posted on: 6 August 2020
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Proper management of a dental emergency can prevent long-term effects on your oral health. In simple terms, if you react appropriately, you can prevent issues such as the loss of your teeth, extensive infections and gum damage. Unfortunately, emergency dental problems come with a lot of pain and can induce panic. It is easy to make the wrong decision in the moment. Therefore, you must be cautious and consult your dentist before taking any action. In addition, here are some tips for avoiding pitfalls during most common emergencies.
Avoid Unusual Pain Remedies
Dental pain can occur due to cavities, infections and injuries, and it can be debilitating. However, you should not be quick to try diverse home remedies for managing the aching. Often, these have adverse consequences. For instance, applying herbal remedies or even commercial painkillers to the site of dental pain might harm the delicate tissues. This will make your oral cavity more sensitive in the long-rum. Also, note that some remedies might work for pain management. However, this might cause you to delay your treatment. Consequently, the dental damage might become more extensive. If there is a lot of pain, consider using a cold compress to alleviate it before seeing your dentist.
Keep an Uprooted Tooth Viable
Some dental emergencies might involve dealing with a knocked-out tooth. If your tooth has been uprooted due to impact, you should not be quick to dismiss it. It is possible to save the tooth and have it reattached by your dentist. However, you must act quickly to prevent the loss of viability. Ideally, you should consult your dentist on the best approach for preserving the tooth. There are also some general guidelines that you can use. For instance, if the tooth has not left the socket, you should not attempt to remove it. This is the safest place. If it has fallen out and cannot be replaced, you can clean it with saliva or rinse it quickly with water. Then, place it in some milk to prevent drying out and death.
Plan for Immediate Treatment
Finally, you must never ignore a dental problem even if the discomfort seems to fade. It is advisable to plan for immediate treatment by a professional as soon as the emergency arises. For instance, small dental chips, cracks or general pain might seem less severe after the initial shock. However, if these problems are not resolved, the entire tooth could become infected or otherwise damaged, leading to the need for extraction.
Reach out to a family dentist if you need emergency dental procedures or other assistance.