It’s important to see your dentist at least twice a year for regular dental checkups—but these are not the only times you might need to see your dentist! Dental emergencies can happen to anyone—even those with excellent oral health routines—and they can happen at any time. Knowing what to do in case of a dental emergency and when to contact your dentist can help you avoid pain and even save your teeth and gums. Keep reading for a closer look at what to do in case of some of the most common dental emergencies:
If you’re feeling any severe pain around your teeth or other parts of your mouth, it could mean that food has gotten stuck under your gum line. Try flossing around the tooth to see if you can remove any debris that might be causing the pain. You can also rinse your mouth out with warm water to see if that provides any relief. If you are still in pain, you should contact your emergency dentist to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Trauma to the jaw can result in dislocation or even a break. This type of injury can occur after a fall, car accident, sports injury, or other facial trauma that affects how the lower jawbone is connected to the skull. If you ever experience a traumatic injury or event that leaves you feeling like your jaw is broken, you should avoid moving your jaw at all. You can use a towel, scarf, or other type of fabric to wrap around your head to keep your jaw in place. Cold compresses can help reduce swelling and pain. It is important to visit an emergency room as soon as possible if you believe your jaw is broken or severely injured.
It’s normal to have loose teeth when you’re young and your baby teeth are falling out, but having loose permanent teeth is cause for concern! Gum disease is one of the most common causes of loose teeth, and the problems it brings will only get worse if left untreated. Injury to the face can also cause teeth to become loose. Visiting the dentist is important for finding the cause of your loose teeth as well as the right solution.
It is also common for pregnant women to experience loose teeth due to the hormones produced during pregnancy and how they impact the body. Luckily, dental health tends to go back to normal after pregnancy, but it is still a good idea to visit a dentist if you have loose teeth before giving birth to rule out any other potential causes.
If you ever chip or break a tooth, it is important to know what to do so you can avoid pain and potentially save your tooth if possible. First, you should clean your mouth by carefully rinsing with warm water. You can use gauze to bandage the area and try to control the bleeding. If possible, collect the broken piece or pieces of the tooth and rinse them off with warm water. Place them in a container and then cover the pieces with your saliva, water with a bit of salt in it, or milk. Visit your emergency dentist as soon as possible, as she will be the only one able to determine if the broken piece or pieces can be reattached to save the natural tooth.
It is common to get food debris caught between your teeth throughout the day and night—which is why flossing is such an important part of a good dental hygiene routine! When you feel like there is something trapped between your teeth, you can try to remove it yourself using dental floss. If this doesn’t work, you can try using a water flossing tool and rinsing your mouth out with warm water. Call your dentist if you are still unable to remove the debris caught between your teeth. Getting food trapped between your teeth is typically not a dental emergency, but your dentist will be able to provide more tips and might recommend scheduling an appointment depending on your level of pain or discomfort.
Getting a tooth knocked out can be a traumatic and overwhelming experience at any age. While baby teeth are supposed to fall out to make place for permanent teeth, they are definitely not supposed to be knocked out! If your child gets a baby tooth knocked out, then it will likely not be able to be put back into the mouth. You should visit a dentist to let her examine your child’s mouth. Luckily, the knocked-out tooth will be replaced with a permanent tooth as your child gets older.
If you get a permanent tooth knocked out, then your dentist might be able to re-implant it within 2 hours of the incident. However, it is not always possible to re-implant teeth that have been knocked out—only your dentist will be able to tell.
When you’re in need of emergency dental care in Woodland Hills, you don’t want to waste any time! You can get the care you need by visiting Dr. Pearl Zadeh. Our office specializes in holistic, cosmetic, and biomimetic dentistry services as well as emergency dental care, so we can take care of all of your needs. Call us today at (818) 716-6722 to learn more.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_btn title=”Contact us” style=”3d” color=”purple” size=”lg” align=”center” css_animation=”fadeInUp” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdentistinwoodlandhills.com%2Fcontact-us%2F|title:Contact%20us%20for%20insurance%20questions||”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1518595875897{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column]