Common Dental Emergencies and First Aid

Dentist help take care of people’s teeth, encouraging flossing, brushing, and mouthwash as the best defense against infections and injuries. However, sometimes life happens, and before you know it, you have an injury that you don’t know how to handle. Most people have a simple idea of what to do when it comes to their injuries, but in cases dealing with dental emergencies, only a qualified, professional dentist will be able to repair those injuries and get you back on track. In this article, we’re going to show you what to do in cases of dental emergencies, and help you take the steps you need to treat your teeth.

What is Considered a Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies all share one thing in common; they all must be addressed immediately to prevent further damage. The most common dental issues range from abscesses and infections that cause damage to the gums and jaw. Trauma to the teeth, gums, and jawline can be a severe issue, and when left untreated, infections can cause the teeth and gums to decay, leaving you with more than a hurting mouth.

Types of Dental Emergencies:

Mouth Injuries – If your gums, teeth, or jaw are bleeding, then one of the best ways to prevent further damage is to go to your dentist as soon as possible. Rinsing out your mouth with clean water, adding an ice pack, and taking pain killers will help soothe the pain for the time being, but if left untreated, the pain will worsen and cause further problems.

Fractured and Chipped Teeth – Teeth that are chipped or fractured can be painful because when a tooth is chipped, it can leave the nerves and blood vessels inside the pulp of the tooth to become exposed to the air, which can potentially lead to infections. If you can gather any part of the tooth you know, that has been chipped, keep those pieces together and go directly to your dentist. If accidentally swallowed, your dentist will be able to implement a procedure that ill help repair the tooth so that no nerves will continue to be exposed.

Fallen-Out Teeth – A fallen or knocked-out tooth will most definitely ruin your day, but if you’re able to find the tooth, a dentist will be able to preserve and surgically insert the tooth back into its spot. If you notice that the tooth has exposed roots, then keep the tooth exposed to water to keep the roots of the tooth moisturized.

While these are the most common dental emergencies, these can be treated by a licensed dentist or other qualified practitioners. In these cases, these injuries are recoverable, even with a broken or fractured tooth.

If you have a dental emergency and need treatment, then you should contact Jacob Laudie Dental at Lees Summit, MO. With a handful of practitioners and a highly-qualified dentist team run under Dr. Jacob Laudie, they will be able to handle any of your dental emergencies. If you have a damaged tooth that needs fixing, then call their number. They’ll get you back to your beautiful smile in no time.