Are You Prepared for Dental Emergencies?
How You Can Be Prepared for a Dental Emergency
A
common phrase we hear is “accidents happen,” and this statement can be
true for dental emergencies. Regardless whether you are a child or an
adult, there will be one time or another when you are in danger of
having a dental emergency, such as playing to roughly, slipping and
falling, or hurting your teeth and gums in some other accidental way.
Since we often do not consider the possibilities when it comes to dental
emergencies, here is how you can be prepared for different situations.
Chipped or Broken Teeth
Chipped or broken teeth can happen from a variety of accidents, including sports injuries, falling injuries, and a slew of other possibilities. When this happens, it is important to collect as many pieces of the tooth or teeth as possible and rinse the mouth out with warm water in order to remove any additional debris. Should the gums or mouth be bleeding, use a gauze pad to apply gentle pressure in order for the bleeding to stop, apply a cold compress to reduce swelling, and call the dentist right away.
Knocked Out Teeth
Those who play hockey or other contact sports understand having a tooth knocked out in certain situations is a very real possibility. Should a tooth become knocked out for one reason or another, it is important to contact and see a dentist immediately as well as trying to find the missing tooth. If the tooth has been located, make sure to rinse it well with cold water and attempt to position the tooth back in the mouth where it belongs. Should replacing the tooth not be possible, place the tooth in a container of milk – this may be crucial for being able to have the missing tooth replaced.
Toothache Pain
A toothache is not as easy to prepare for as some of the other emergencies mentioned here since a toothache could be caused by a number of different underlying problems. First, make sure to call a dental professional and make an appointment as soon as possible. In the meantime, the best that can be done is trying to ease the pain by using over the counter painkillers and also cleaning and flossing the teeth thoroughly to remove any stuck in food that may be causing discomfort. Additionally, if there is swelling around the affected area, applying a cold compress can help to alleviate the swelling.
Dental emergencies can be costly, which is why you should have some type of dental coverage. If you do not already have insurance, consider using a New Hampshire discount dental plan like Wellness Dental. This plan saves you as much as 20 percent off regular and emergency dental visits. For more information, please click here.
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