Our teeth are very sensitive parts of our bodies. So, how can you tell if your teeth or gums require immediate attention? Usually, the first sign of a problematic tooth or oral problem is feeling pain or something uncomfortable in your mouth that doesn’t seem right. That’s why emergency dental Oakville services are readily available in case of a serious tooth accident because catching it early can prevent possible infection and more discomfort.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to recognize when a dental emergency is happening, why you should consider coming to Oakville Place Dental Office, and the five common dental emergencies.
Dental injuries happen so fast that sometimes you may not notice them immediately. One minute you’re eating your favourite food, and the next you feel a striking pain in your mouth.
What should you do next? The first thing to do is rinse your mouth with warm water and a teaspoon of salt for about 30 seconds. Swish it around properly in your mouth, and when you spit out the water, check to see if there are any blood or tooth parts. If there is blood, a tooth, a filling, or a piece of enamel, then you have an emergency on your hands. First, try not to panic and contact an emergency dental provider as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.
At Oakville Place Dental, we understand that dental accidents happen suddenly, and we are ready to accommodate any type of dental emergency. Check out these great reasons why you should choose us for your emergency dental issues:
Now, let’s turn our attention to the most common dental emergencies, and what you should do if they happen to you.
Several dental emergencies require immediate attention. The following are five of the most common dental emergencies:
An abscess happens when the root of your tooth or the space between your teeth and gums gets infected. Signs of an abscess are a firm, pimple-like bump that swells your gums and is painful to touch. If left untreated, an abscess can get bigger and possibly damage the areas in your teeth and gum tissue that could spread to other areas of your body. So, it’s important to see your dentist right away if you notice a pimple-like and painful swelling on your gums.
While you’re waiting to see your dentist, avoid eating crunchy foods on the side of the mouth where the abscess is. Also, after each meal, rinse your mouth with warm water and a teaspoon of salt for 30 seconds. Do this several times a day, as it helps drain the pus in the abscess and alleviate any pain or discomfort. If the pain doesn’t subside, try taking a pain reliever like ibuprofen.
A chipped or broken tooth is very common and can be caused by eating hard foods, switching from hot to cold drinks, and accidents. The first sign of a chipped or broken tooth is an even or slightly off feeling within your mouth. For instance, when your chipped or broken tooth rests on your tongue, you’ll feel the edges of the tooth rubbing against your tongue. This will cause discomfort and possibly pain and swelling a few hours after the accident.
Use an ice pack if swelling or pain occurs, and contact your emergency dental services in Oakville to make an appointment as soon as possible, as a chipped tooth could become a bigger problem. In the meantime, avoid eating hard foods on that side. Instead, eat soft foods and, afterward, rinse out your mouth with a teaspoon of salt in warm water and clean the area gently.
For those with dental crowns, tooth caps are bonded on top of the damaged tooth and, over the years, the crown could get loose or even fall off. If you were able to save the crown, place it in a small zip-lock bag so you can bring it with you to your dentist who can then bond it back over your tooth. In such cases, call your dentist right away and make an emergency appointment.
To prevent the tooth that is uncovered by the crown from getting infected, avoid eating on that side and apply some clove oil on a cotton ball to the area surrounding the uncrowned tooth. You can also place an over-the-counter denture adhesive or temporary crown cement to place back over your tooth in order to hold it in place temporarily until your dentist appointment.
Bleeding gums is the first sign of gingivitis, and this is due to the inflammation of the gums caused by plaque build-up on your gum line. Gum disease is very common, and if the bleeding wasn’t caused by a knocked-out tooth, you could try a few oral hygiene practices such as rinsing your mouth with salt water several times a day and placing a cold compress on the swollen area.
If this doesn’t stop the pain and bleeding, make an appointment with your dentist so they can take some x-rays and find the root of the problem. However, if your gums are bleeding due to a cracked or chipped tooth, you should make a dental appointment right away, as it could turn into a tooth infection and become life-threatening if you don’t seek immediate care.
If your filling gets loose or chips off, you should make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. If you leave an open cavity untreated, you risk getting it infected and it could turn into an abscess. Until your next appointment, avoid eating on that side and gargle with warm salt water several times a day if it gets swollen. After gargling, place a small piece of over-the-counter cement over the exposed tooth.
Our staff is very accommodating, and if you have a dental emergency, call us as soon as possible. If the dental emergency occurs after 9 p.m., call us in the morning. We are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday. On weekends, we open at 8 a.m. with early closure.
Let us know that it’s a dental emergency. We’ll ask you a few questions about what you’re experiencing, and we’ll set up an appointment for you to come on that day. To learn more about our emergency dental services or to make an appointment, call Oakville Place Dental at 647-496-2721 or contact us here.
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