Six Tips to Handle Dental Emergencies During COVID-19
Description: Dental emergencies can occur at any time and getting treatment immediately will hasten the recovery process and prevent any further complication.
Dental emergencies are important, just like the medical ones, and require as much attention. If not addressed on time, some dental accidents and trauma can lead to loss of teeth and mouth infections.
Although seeing our emergency dentist in Torrance, CA is recommended, what you do after the accident occurs will make all the difference. Here are five tips on how to handle dental emergencies.
1. Know What is an Urgent Dental Emergency and Which is Not
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are open during the lockdown to treat only essential and emergency dental accidents. It is, therefore, vital to know the difference between urgent and non-urgent dental emergencies to save time.
Oral emergencies are accidents affecting the teeth, gums, and supporting tissues. Most accidents cause pain, bleeding, and lacerations and need urgent treatment. Some of the common dental accidents include:
- Knocked-out teeth. Our teeth can get partially or completely dislodged from the socket because of an accident or fall. Dislodged teeth need urgent attention to prevent the teeth from dying.
- Broken or fractured teeth can range from a minor chip on the enamel and to complete fracture leaving the pulp exposed. Minor chips may be treated at home, but a fracture will require urgent cracked teeth treatment.
- Soft tissues in the cheeks, lips, and gums can get injured causing lacerations. These injuries cause bleeding and infections.
- Abscessed teeth cause pain and pus formation in between the gums and teeth. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the surrounding tissues weakening the teeth.
Non-urgent dental emergencies can wait for a few days and they include:
- Lost dental restorations like filling and bridges
- Minor toothache
- Small chips and cracks
- Food stuck in between the teeth
2. Seek Dental Treatment Immediately
If you have severe pain and discomfort, we encourage you to visit our dentist in Yorba Linda immediately for treatment especially if you have knocked-out teeth. It is possible for the dentist to re-implant your teeth if treatment is initiated within an hour after the accident occurs.
3. Stop the Bleeding
Bleeding can occur after teeth are dislodged or soft tissue is injured. Use a gauze pad to stop the bleeding. Alternatively, try using a teabag every 15 minutes to stop the bleeding. Don’t use medications unless directed by the doctor, because certain medications can worsen the bleeding.
4. Take Care of Your Teeth and Mouth
Rinse your mouth with mildly warm salt water to get rid of the debris and dirt in the mouth or any broken pieces of teeth. If the teeth are knocked-out don’t try to pull them, rather gently push them back to the socket. For completely dislodged teeth, place them on milk to preserve them and keep them from dying. Do not wrap the teeth in tissue or scrub them with soap.
Also, avoid applying pain relievers on your gums as they cause inflammation and bruising.
5. Control the Swelling
Your gums may swell a bit after a trauma occurs. You can prevent swelling with a cold compress. Place an ice pack on the cheek in the affected area, but not on direct skin. Avoid using heat therapy because it draws out water making swelling worse.
6. Prevent Future Occurrence
It may be challenging to prevent dental accidents, but there are ways you can lessen the severity of the trauma. Wearing mouthguards when playing contact sports can protect the teeth from direct contact and bruxism. Clenching and grinding of the teeth weaken the tissues and jaw.
Proper dental hygiene will also go a long way in preventing decay. Additionally, get regular dental cleanings and fluoride treatments to strengthen the enamel. Fluoride reverses the effects of demineralization and protects the enamel against cavities and decay. Don’t forget to get your biannual routine dental exam and assessment.
Schedule an Appointment
If you have severe pain, bleeding, lingering tooth sensitivity, you may have an abscess, cracked, or knocked-out teeth and in need of urgent dental treatment. At Digital Smiles we have different treatments to help preserve your teeth and prevent further dental complications.
