What you need to know about dental emergencies
Dental emergencies can be scary and you need to be prepared. They can happen to anyone, at any time and usually when you least expect it. Dr. Joseph Reed at Arlington Dental in Arlington, TX, wants you to know how to be ready for a dental emergency.
Your Arlington dentist suggests that you keep an emergency kit on hand containing all you need to provide hands-on emergency care. You should include:
- Dr. Reed’s phone number
- Ibuprofen or other pain medication
- Saline solution for rinsing
- Tissue or gauze
- A small container with a lid
Dental emergencies can result from many causes including traumatic injuries or accidents, sports injuries or untreated dental problems. Your dental emergency may result in damage to your face, gums, cheeks or lips. You can also damage the hard and soft tissues inside your mouth, including cracking or breaking your teeth, or knocking a tooth out completely.
If you or someone you know has a dental emergency, try to stay calm and provide care. Also:
- Clean the injured area and press gauze to it to stop the bleeding, especially for soft tissue injuries.
- If you chip or fracture a tooth, rinse out your mouth and ice the area to reduce swelling.
- If your tooth becomes loose from an injury, try to gently adjust it back into correct position with slight movements.
If you knock out your tooth completely, rinse off your tooth and place it back in your mouth between your gum and cheek to keep it moist; or you can place it in a small container with saline solution. Always hold your tooth by the crown to avoid contaminating the root of your tooth.
For most dental emergencies, you should get in to see your dentist as soon as you can. It is vital for you to have all dental emergency contact and after-hours information in a convenient place. If you or someone you know has a dental emergency, remain calm, but don’t delay in receiving professional dental care. Help is just a phone call away with Dr. Joseph Reed at Arlington Dental in Arlington, TX. Call today and get help for your dental emergency!