Emergency Dentistry 101: All You Need to Know 

A mouth trauma can occur at any time causing pain and other complications. A dental emergency is defined as any injury or bruising that affects the gums, teeth, and surrounding soft tissues causing bleeding, swelling, and pain. Without getting immediate dental treatment, you risk losing your teeth and also developing other complications.

What is Considered a Dental Emergency?

When dental trauma occurs, it is advisable to visit an emergency dentist near you for immediate treatment. Some of the common urgent dental problems include:

• Toothache

Tooth pain can occur when you have food stuck in the gums or have soft tissue bruising. However, when you have severe and persistent pain, it could be a sign of decay or fracture. It is vital to seek immediate treatment to have the fracture addressed or tooth decay removed. Remember, leaving the decay unattended, can spread to the surrounding tissues and affect the teeth.

• Bleeding gums

Bleeding gums can occur when you have minor soft tissue bruising or when you brush your teeth with a hard-toothbrush. This gum bleeding, however, clears after some time. But, when the bleeding is persistent and occurs several times a day, it could be a sign of gum disease.

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection that causes the formation of gum pockets. These pockets trap food and worsen the situation. Furthermore, as the infection advances, it affects the supporting bone and causes tooth decay.

• Broken teeth

Broken and knocked teeth can occur when you come in direct contact with an object or when you fall. If the fracture extends to the root, you need treatment to prevent the teeth from getting damaged. Knocked-out teeth also need immediate treatment to avoid losing them.

• Abscess

A dental abscess is also caused by a bacterial infection. The infection affects the gums and spreads to the inner parts triggering pus accumulation. A tooth abscess cannot clear without treatment. If you do not remove the infection on time, it can spread to the nearby tissues and cause damage. In advanced cases, the bacterial infection can spread to the neck and head, and also the bloodstream, triggering widespread inflammation.

• Swollen jaw

If the bacteria affect the lymph nodes, it can also cause the jaw to swell. The bacteria block the salivary glands affecting saliva production. This causes the fluid to accumulate in the jaw and cause swelling.

A swollen jaw can also be caused by jaw damage or a tumor.

What Can You Do When a Trauma Occurs?

After the dental emergency occurs, what you do will affect the success of the treatment. Here are a few tips:

• Rinse the mouth with lukewarm water to get rid of debris and dirt.
• If the teeth are partially knocked out, try pushing the teeth back to the socket using the crown. For completely avulsed teeth, store them in milk to preserve them.
• Use a gauze pad to control bleeding.
• Apply an ice pack on the cheeks to stop swelling.
• For knocked-out teeth, visit the dentist within the first hour of the accident. This increases the chances of the dentist saving the teeth.
• Visiting an emergency dentist in Mississauga will save your teeth and preserve your dental structure, It also reduces the chances of you needing the services of a cosmetic dentist near you to improve your dental appearance.

How Can You Prevent a Dental Emergency?

Although mouth trauma occurs without warning, you can prevent the severity of the problems. Here are a few tips:

• Get regular dental checkups and cleaning. The dentist can detect a dental problem like worn-down teeth and decay, and address them on time. Dental cleaning gets rid of the plaques and prevents periodontal disease.
• Fluoride treatments also strengthen the teeth and protect them from decay. For children, you can get dental sealants that shield them from decay and cavities.
• Wear mouthguards if you suffer from bruxism. The mouth guards protect the teeth from the pressure of grinding and clenching.

Final Thoughts

A dental emergency occurs without warning sometimes, and other times it develops over time as is the case with decay and periodontal disease. Regardless of the severity of the problem, you need to have access to emergency dental treatment. Visit Forest Park Dental Arts if you notice any pain or bleeding for assistance.