When a dental emergency arises, the actions you take in the immediate aftermath could ease discomfort and help prevent major complications from developing before we can see you. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist talks about precautions for dental emergencies, and how you can help protect your smile from injury as well.
When to Seek Care
You should contact us if you sustain an injury to your teeth or gums, or if pain develops in your smile. This could otherwise lead to major problems for your smile down the road. Give us a call, even if your issue happens outside of normal business hours, as we can arrange for an opportunity to see you in a timely manner, and offer tips on safeguarding your smile until we can provide treatment. Below, we’re going to look at common dental emergency situations and discuss ways to respond that ease discomfort and complications.
Easing Discomfort and Complications
If a tooth aches or an object is stuck between teeth, then rinse with warm water and gently floss on either side of the tooth. If this fails to address the issue, let us know. If a tooth is chipped or broken, try to recover the pieces and bring them with you. But don’t worry, we can repair the tooth if this isn’t possible. Then use cloth or gauze to stem bleeding, and a cold compress against the side of the face to control swelling.
If a tooth is knocked out, then pick it up by the crown, never touch the root. Then place it in a glass of salt water or milk and bring it to the office with you. You can also gently rinse away foreign debris and return it to your socket, biting down gently to keep it in place.
If you have a loose or lost filling or crown, then avoid sugary or especially hot/cold foods and drinks as the exposed tooth is very sensitive. For all of these situations, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help ease discomfort until we can see you.
Protecting Your Smile
You could also talk to our team about a custom-made mouthguard, which is worn when you play sports, martial arts, or other full contact activities, helping you avoid chipped, cracked, or knocked loose/out teeth. If you have any questions about our approach to emergency dentistry, then contact our team today to learn more.
Talk to Your Astoria, NY, Dentist Today
We would like to help our patients when they’re faced with a serious oral health concern. To learn more about preventing major problems following a dental emergency situation, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
