Sudden issues with teeth, gums and even jaws can catch anyone off guard. The most diligent dental hygiene regimens may fail to prevent emergency conditions. However, the right open treatment center and trained acute care team can tackle these concerns 24 hours a day.
Here is what you need to know about common dental emergencies, how to prevent them and how to address them if they happen any time of day or night.
Common Dental Emergencies
Impacted and Infected Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth may not have room to fully emerge or may crowd other teeth in the mouth when they do. Impacted wisdom teeth are difficult or impossible to reach to clean. They put sufferers at risk for tooth decay, infection and more.
Unpleasant symptoms can land you in dental emergency care for solutions and procedures after hours:
- Pain and swelling in the gums and jaws
- Bleeding, itching and irritated gums
- Foul mouth odor, beyond normal bad breath
- Accidental scrapes and lacerations on the tongue and inner cheek areas
- Infection from improper cleaning, with fever and fatigue
Chipped or Broken Teeth
Common teeth injuries range from small enamel cracks to severe fractures. These breaks can reach sensitive nerves in the tooth’s dentin. The pain can be incredible.
Household accidents, rough sports and sudden falls can injure teeth. Severe incidents can dislodge or fracture jaws and require immediate medical attention. Take preventative steps.
- Wear a mouthguard for sports like hockey, baseball and boxing.
- Open nuts with nutcrackers, not your teeth.
- Be cautious about eating almonds, popcorn (kernels) and hard candies.
Old Cavities, Fillings and Crowns
A cavity may flip from a mere nuisance to a raging pain in a matter of days. Even non-sugary foods can become unbearable. People also wind up in unimaginable pain if old fillings and crowns come loose or wear down from time or bad habits like chewing ice and hard candies.
Emergency dental care is necessary when sufferers simply can not wait to fill cavities or restore worn-out fillings and crowns.
Handling Dental Emergencies
You want to have a regular care regimen to maintain healthy teeth and gums so emergencies are kept to a minimum.
- Brush your teeth in the morning, at night and after meals.
- When brushing after meals is not possible, rinse mouth with plain water to remove food particles and bacteria.
- Chew sugar-free gums and avoid sugary candies.
- Use dental floss and alcohol-free mouthwash every day.
Always have a regular dentist near your primary residence for routine checkups and maintenance. However, also keep a list of trusted offices to visit wherever you may travel frequently or plan to travel in the near future.
It pays in the long run to use an affordable emergency dental office rather than wait, because a problem may worsen. These professionals are trained in emergency practice just in case you experience pain, discomfort or injury outside your regular doctor’s hours.
If you live in the Houston area or plan to be here soon, consider us when you need an “emergency dentist near me.” We are are ready to service you at a moment’s notice.