Preparing for an emergency of any kind is important. Many people prepare for catastrophic events by storing extra food and water in their homes or place tools in their cars in the event of a breakdown. While many folks prepare for medical and catastrophic emergencies, they often don’t consider the importance of knowing what to do during a dental emergency. Our dentist offers some important tips on responding to injuries and preventing them.
Emergency Dentistry Tips
When it comes to an emergency situation regarding your oral health, you need to be able to contact our practice quickly and easily. The best way to do this is to keep our information handy—no matter where you are. We recommend storing our practice number in your cell phone and keeping our business card in your wallet or purse.
If a facial injury or accidental fall has caused a tooth to become misplaced or knocked out of its socket, there are steps you can take that might help us preserve your biological tooth. After a tooth has been injured, call our practice as soon as possible. In the meantime, place the tooth or any pieces of the tooth in milk or Save-A-Tooth solution (available at most supermarkets and drug stores). Do not place a tooth in any other liquid. If you don’t have milk or Save-A-Tooth solution handy, place the tooth inside your cheek to keep its cellular material alive until you can arrive at our practice.
For toothaches or swelling due to an injury, you can use a cold compress to minimize discomfort. Gauze is best for controlling bleeding inside the mouth.
Preventing Dental Emergencies
Avoid using your teeth to chew or cut anything that is not food. For instance, some people may tear open a bag with their teeth or chew on pen caps. Over time, this can weaken tooth enamel and cause tooth breakage or fracture. Always use scissors to open bags and packages instead of your teeth.
Wear a mouth guard if you play contact sports. A mouth guard will help prevent oral lacerations and protect teeth from movement if you fall or experience a facial injury.
Our skilled dental team provides emergency care to patients and we will work you into our schedule the day of your call. Contact Dental Depot today to learn more.