Has your tooth woken you up in the middle of the night yet? If it has, you know that not only is that the absolute worse way to wake up, it is also the worse pain you have ever felt in your life.
Toothaches are no joke. What’s even less funny is a dental emergency.
In your lifetime, you will likely experience a dental emergency of some kind. Emergencies can run the gamut from a broken tooth to a painful abscess.
Keep reading this dental emergency guide to learn what to do in a dental emergency And if you need a dentist, check out this recommended dentist in Columbia.
What Is a Dental Emergency
A dental emergency requires immediate care. You can’t put off these types of visits. A painful swollen mouth doesn’t care if you are going to work or a dinner date. It will just strike.
There are several symptoms that, when they appear together, require urgent care. For example, pain with swelling, headache, or fever needs treatment right away-no ifs, ands, or buts.
The most common dental emergencies include jaw injuries, broken teeth, infection accompanied by pain and swelling, and a knocked out or loosened tooth.
This list is not exhaustive, so your safest bet would be to contact a dentist if you aren’t sure. They will help you determine if you need emergency treatment and guide you on what to do in a dental emergency.
Most dentists keep emergency hours. In addition, many leave direct contact information on their office voicemails, so there is always a way to reach them.
What to Do In a Dental Emergency
If you have trouble reaching your dentist and your symptoms haven’t changed or have worsened, you must seek medical attention right away. Untreated infections can cause extreme pain, loss of the tooth, and in some cases, death.
During a dental emergency, every second counts. Seeking prompt dental care will mitigate unwanted outcomes.
A permanent adult tooth knocked out by trauma or injury always requires a visit to an emergency dentist. Contact your local dentist immediately because the odds of permanent tooth loss increase after one hour.
The fastest way to find one is by typing “emergency dentist near me” into a search engine.
How to Prevent a Dental Emergency
Now that you know what to do in a dental emergency, you can concentrate on preventing one from happening in the first place. Luckily, most of the time, emergencies are preventable.
At home, you can keep dental emergencies at bay by practicing good oral hygiene. Your dentist wasn’t lying when they told you to brush and floss twice daily. You should also visit your dentist twice yearly for a checkup and cleaning.
Sadly many don’t seek necessary treatment because they are self-conscious or embarrassed at the state of their mouths. But, remember, dentists have seen it all before and will not judge you.
So if you find yourself in a dental emergency, don’t fret. An emergency dentist is always a phone call away.
Did you like what you read? Then, check out our Lifestyle & Health section for more informative reads.
