If you’re experiencing any dental emergency like severe pain in your teeth/gum, broken teeth or a knocked out tooth it’s always best to seek immediate treatment. You can easily get connected with a dentist in your area by calling or using our online service.
It is important to maintain good oral health by brushing and flossing twice daily. Practicing good oral hygiene will help prevent any serious problems from occurring in the future.
Broken or Loose Teeth
There is a wide variety of ways your teeth can be broken or chipped. Whether you are accidentally hit with something hard or biting down on a very tough food, your teeth can be damaged. Often, chipped teeth are painful and will require emergency treatment. Dentists can repair a chipped tooth and restore its strength, function, and appearance using crowns, fillings or other restorations.
Even when you are careful to eat only soft foods, your teeth can break or crack. This is because the enamel can crack or fracture due to trauma, grinding or chewing on hard foods. Symptoms of a cracked or chipped tooth include sensitivity to hot and cold, pain while chewing or biting, and the sensation that your tooth is moving when you bite down.
If your tooth is broken, rinse it gently with saline or salt water and cover any jagged edges with wax paraffin or sugarless gum to keep them from cutting into the inside of your cheek, gums or tongue. Take a over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen if you are in pain and schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.
Severe Toothache
If you suffer from a severe toothache, it’s important to contact an emergency dentist Kaplan LA immediately. Severe pain in a single or multiple teeth can be a sign of deep decay, tooth damage, gum disease, or an infection. Symptoms of a serious dental problem include sharp pain, throbbing or pulsating, pain that is constant, sensitivity to hot or cold, or swelling of the jaw and neck. A foul odor or white fluid leaking from the gums can also be indicative of an infection and require immediate attention from a dental professional.
A severe toothache can be treated by a root canal, which involves drilling beneath the enamel and dentin layers until the infected pulp area, which contains nerves and blood vessels, is exposed. After numbing the area, the dentist removes the infected tissue and cleans and seals it. This will relieve the pain and allow the patient to return to a normal diet. A severe toothache can also be a sign of an infection, which requires antibiotics and a trip to the emergency room.
Gum Bleeding
Bleeding gums are not uncommon and can be a sign of gum disease, but they should never be ignored. This is because gum disease progresses from gingivitis to periodontitis, which can cause serious damage to the teeth and gums. Bleeding gums can also be a symptom of other health problems, including hormone changes during puberty, pregnancy or menopause and vitamin deficiencies such as scurvy.
Blenching gums can also be caused by eating foods that are brittle or hard, like chips or crackers, which poke and irritate the gum tissue. This is why it is important to practice good oral hygiene and brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily and avoid brittle foods that can cause damage to your teeth and gums.
If you have bleeding gums, contact an emergency dentist Kaplan LA immediately to schedule an appointment. Depending on the cause, you may need to undergo a root canal treatment, extraction or dental crown. However, with prompt treatment, you can prevent severe complications and keep your smile healthy.
Injury to the Mouth
Any injury that affects the teeth, gums, mouth or jaws is considered a dental emergency. Traumatic dental injuries can range from mild to severe, but most require immediate treatment. Injuries to the mouth can be caused by a number of things including sports, work accidents or even rough play at home.
Home treatment for minor mouth injuries is important to help stop bleeding, relieve pain and prevent infection. Wash the injured area with warm water, place a cold compress on the cheek and offer pain relief (for example children’s Tylenol).
It is also a good idea to keep non-latex gloves handy for cleaning and inspecting the injury. You should also have cotton swabs and floss to remove anything stuck between teeth. Ice packs wrapped in a cloth can also be helpful to reduce swelling. If the injury is severe and you can’t reach your dentist immediately, head to the hospital for medical treatment. This will help avoid a serious condition like infection or broken facial bones.