Hopefully, you won’t ever have a dental emergency that requires the immediate attention of your family dentist. But despite your most careful actions, there may come a day when a dental emergency may affect you. If so, here a few brief tips on what to do in some of the most common instances:
- If you’re suffering from a whopper of a toothache, use warm water to rinse your mouth. You may also want to try using dental floss to remove any food that may be stuck between your teeth. Applying a cold pack on the outside of your mouth in the area where the pain is most intense could also help alleviate the pain. Do not apply painkillers on the gums because it could damage the gum tissue. And get in to see your family dentist as soon as you can.
- If you lose a tooth, call your family dentist immediately for an emergency appointment. Your best chance of saving your tooth is to be treated within an hour after it has been knocked out. Hold the tooth by the top (the part that’s visible when in your mouth). Don’t touch the root (the bottom, pointy part of the tooth) because you could damage parts of it that are vital for reattaching. If the tooth is dirty, you can gently rinse it, but don’t scrub! You can try to put the tooth back into place, but don’t try to force it back into its socket. If you’re not able to insert it, then wrap it in a clean cloth and place it in milk or a contact lenses saline solution and get to your family dentist as soon as possible.
- If a crown comes loose and you find yourself in pain, dab some clove oil to the area that hurts. (For clove oil check your local drugstore or the spice section at your supermarket.) You can try to put the crown back over the tooth by using over-the-counter dental cement or dental adhesive.
- If you lose a filling, you can use sugarless gum to stick into the cavity, or use over-the-counter dental cement. Be sure to see your family dentist as soon as possible to fix the filling.
These are just a few instances of dental emergencies. Fortunately, good family dentists are prepared to handle emergencies around the clock. And if you live in the Columbus or Reynoldsburg areas, you’ll be glad to know that we not only handle routine dental visits, but also are equipped to take care of dental emergencies. That’s why we provide an after-hours emergency telephone number. So be assured that we are here to tend to all your oral care needs, from providing regular check-ups to fixing the damage when the unexpected happens. Want to learn more about us? Check us out on Facebook!