What To Do If There Is A Dental Emergency? 

A dental emergency can put you in a challenging situation. You may not know what to do if there is a dental emergency! 

It’s best to identify your situation and sort out whether you need urgent medical attention. For example, if it’s a toothache, you can try brushing the teeth or flossing, and if it goes away in a few minutes, you can wait and book an appointment with the dentist. 

However, if the pain doesn’t go away even after taking over-the-counter medicine or if it’s a tooth fracture, this would be a dental emergency! 

Read on for more information. 

Things to Do During Dental Emergency 

A dental emergency is serious! You must know what actions to take. It’s also wise to educate everyone at home about emergencies and where to contact if there is an issue. 

Consider the following: 

Stay Calm And Think Your Best 

It’s hard to stay calm in an emergency, but you can’t think straight if you aren’t calm. So, relax, take a deep breath, and think through. If you are facing an emergency, ask someone to help you instantly. There is no shame in asking for help! 

Evaluate the situation. See if it’s an actual emergency or if it is possible to take care of the situation. For example, if your child is experiencing toothache, try brushing his teeth. There could be a cavity that needs attention, but if the hours are odd, such as nighttime, you may need to wait for the dentist until morning. So, assessing the situation is important. 

Contact The Dentist

If there is a dental emergency and your dentist is available, contact the clinic as soon as possible. Let them know about your situation. Your dentist would be able to guide you in the right direction!

However, if the dental emergency is during the weekend when your dentist isn’t available or after office hours, in that case, you can search for dental emergencies 24 hours and contact the place with the best reviews. There would be help available for your situation! 

You can also try the emergency department, but they most likely do not specialize in dental problems. However, they can help you minimize the pain, especially if it is unbearable. 

Identify The Dental Emergency And Act Accordingly 

You may not know whether the situation your family member or child is facing is of emergency! So, you need to identify the dental emergency. 

For example, if the tooth is knocked out, you need to save the tooth. Keep it in milk if it’s fallen out, or if it’s still inside the mouth, keep it in place. If you keep the tooth safe, the dentist can place it back! However, if you lost the tooth, it would be even more challenging. 

If the pain is unbearable for you or your child, try over-the-counter medicine. If it doesn’t help, you probably need antibiotics, as there could be an infection. So, contact the dentist immediately if the pain doesn’t go away! 

If there are bleeding gums, wash your mouth; if the bleeding doesn’t stop, it will be a dental emergency! 

If there is too much swelling and pain in your teeth and gums, and you are not feeling well, it’s best to contact the dentist or dental emergency if the dentist isn’t available. 

Tips to Keep In Mind to Avoid Dental Emergency

An emergency can happen to anyone at any time! You can’t totally avoid it, but there are some tips to help you keep emergencies at bay. 

For example: 

• Visit the dentist and keep your oral health in check. If there are loose fillings and crowns, fix them before they become a dental emergency. 
• If you feel uncomfortable about your oral health, it’s best to talk to your dentist about it. There could be an underlying issue, so it’s best to get it checked. Why wait for an emergency when you have a gut feeling? Talk to your dentist about it. 
• Teach your kids about the importance of oral hygiene. Help your kids to brush their teeth until they are nine years old. Small kids may not understand the significance of oral health. They may not brush their teeth properly, and thus, you can expect more cavities and problems. 
• Ask your dentist to teach you the basics of oral hygiene. If oral health wasn’t a thing in your family, it’s time to change the dynamics and make it a priority.
• Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes. Change your toothbrush every three months. You can also look into bamboo toothbrushes. After all, saving the planet also matters!
• Reward your kids for brushing their teeth properly! They need to associate oral hygiene with positive feelings. 
• If you or the kids have cavities, get them filled as soon as you can! Don’t wait for the problems to become bigger! If you are not taking care of the cavities, there could be a need for a root canal and, eventually, extraction if you aren’t serious! 
• Give importance to oral health! It can save you in many ways. Neglecting your oral health would be costly in the long run. 

FAQs

What happens if there is a dental emergency?

You would find yourself panicking during a dental emergency, but you must contact the dental clinic. Find the dental emergency contact details online if the clinic isn’t open. There is always help available, but it also depends on where you live and how far the place is from you! It’s always best to prepare yourself beforehand for such situations. For example, keep the contact details on the refrigerator or somewhere reachable so that it’s easy to reach in such situations. 

What to do if there is toothache? 

A toothache could be because of a cavity, infection, or it could be broken tooth. If there is a fracture or an abscess with swelling, it needs urgent care. If the cavity is small, brushing the teeth or using over-the-counter medicine can help. 

Wrapping It Up 

Assess the situation, and you must contact the dentist if it’s a dental emergency. Look into the contact details of a dental emergency near you and tell them about your situation if your dentist isn’t available. 

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