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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – We all have them – sudden, disturbing dental emergencies, from broken teeth and objects stuck in our teeth, to lost fillings and even lost teeth. One thing is for sure, it’s crucial to do all the right things to save our teeth. Once a tooth is gone, it’s gone, but with some preventative measures and smart strategies, you can avoid the worst case scenario of having missing, damaged or infected teeth.
Infections and Gum Disease
The most common reason for ER visits due to dental problems involving gum and tooth infections. The number of people receiving emergency dental care for tooth and gum infections has risen, no thanks to the economy and a lack of dental coverage. But the cost is far higher than a dental visit or a lost tooth. According to a Frontline report, many people die each year from tooth and gum infections.
What’s worse is that gum disease and infections are completely preventable by visiting the dentist regularly. Many people wait until it’s too late to get the help they need, because they are unaware of the dangers of dental infections to their overall health.
In a Pew Foundation survey, one million Americans visit the emergency room each year because of dental pain, costing millions of dollars. Dental infections like periapical abscesses can perforate the oral cavity or sinuses, spreading the infection into nearby facial tissues and bones. This causes the bone to erode, requiring surgery to reconstruct the bone and clear the infection.
If you have pain in or around a tooth with or without an abscess, you should:
1. Gently rinse your mouth with warm water.
2. Use dental floss to carefully remove anything stuck in the tooth.
3. If your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek.
4. Never place painkillers or aspirin against the gums next to your aching tooth as this can burn your gum tissues.
5. Call your dentist right away.
Dealing with Unexpected Dental Disasters
Whenever anything happens to your teeth, the first step is to call your dentist immediately. Thanks to modern technology, dentists are more accessible than ever. Some dentists have patient portals on their websites, while others use answering services to allow patients to them 24/7. Aside from calling the dentist, here’s how to stay calm and survive any dental emergency:
An object gets caught in your teeth. If you can’t remove an object stuck in your teeth, you should call your dentist rather than try to remove it yourself. Avoid using sharp objects, such as a pin or knife to loosen the stuck object, which could cut your gums or scratch your teeth. If flossing doesn’t work, your dentist can remove it for you.
You break or chip a tooth. First, save the pieces and rinse your mouth, as well as the broken pieces thoroughly with warm water. In case bleeding happens, put a piece of gauze on the infected area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth, cheek or lip nearest to the chipped or broken tooth in order to relieve your pain or keep the swelling down. Your dentist can repair your chipped tooth in no time.
You loosen or knock out a tooth. Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse it off completely with clear water, and then put it right back in place. Never scrub the tooth and leave any attached tissue on it. Place it in the same position as it was before you knocked it out, but don’t force it. If you can re-insert it, put your tooth in a small container with milk or a product called Save-a-Tooth. Your dentist can help save or replace your tooth.
Your crown or filling falls out. Call your dentist as soon as you can, so they can put the crown back on or replace your filling. If you are in pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever. If you can fit the crown back on, you can secure it with some toothpaste or denture adhesive, but never use super glue. The dentists at Alcan Dental Group recommend you place a lost filling in a small container, and then put a little gauze in the area to keep it free of debris until you get to the dentist’s office.
As we all know, prevention is better than a cure, so avoid dental disasters by wearing a helmet and mouth guard when you or your family plays sports or engages in potentially-dangerous activities. Don’t stick sharp objects in your mouth and avoid using your teeth as tools, such as opening nutshells or jars. By using a bit of common sense and seeing your dentist on a regular schedule, you can avoid most dental emergencies.
Dr. Scott Laudon DMD graduated from Oregon Health and Science University in 1988. He went on to serve in the US Army in Darmstadt, Germany for the next three years and spent eleven months in Saudi Arabia as a part of Desert Storm. After retiring from the US army, Dr. Laudon moved to Anchorage Alaska to run Alcan Dental Group, a family dentistry which serves not just Anchorage, but the surrounding villages in Alaska.
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