Steps To Take During Dental Emergencies At Night
Introduction
Dental emergencies can occur at any time, including weekends and at night. Whenever dental emergencies occur, contact an emergency dentist immediately to prevent infections and permanent damage.
What Is The Most Common Dental Emergency
Accidents, poor diet, sports injuries, and poor dental hygiene can cause dental emergencies. Several dental emergencies can occur at night. The most common dental emergencies include toothache, swollen jaw, broken tooth, knocked-out tooth, broken braces, dental abscess, and bleeding gums.
What To Do During Dental Emergencies
It is best to visit an emergency dentist near you immediately to assess the situation and appropriate treatment properly. Delay in treatment can lead to infections or more severe problems. Before getting to the clinic, there are first-aid tips that can reduce discomfort or bleed, depending on the situation. Below are things to do during several types of dental emergencies;
- Toothache: this can cause tremendous discomfort. Before visiting the clinic, rinse the mouth with warm water and apply pressure with a cold compress if there is swelling. Also, you may use a pain reliever such as Ibuprofen.
- Cracked Tooth: bacteria can infect cracked teeth if there is no proper care. It is best to rinse the mouth with warm water and place an ice bag on the swollen area
- Knocked-out Tooth: rinse the tooth carefully and avoid scrubbing. Try placing the tooth back in its position. If the tooth doesn’t stay in its position, put in fresh milk to preserve the teeth. Visit a clinic afterward for proper treatment
- Broken Tooth: Rinse the mouth with warm water and save the pieces of the broken tooth. If the area is bleeding, apply gauze to stop the bleeding. Also, apply a cold compress to any swollen area.
- Dental Abscess: a severe infection in the tooth root or gums can cause an abscess. Rinse the mouth with a mild salt solution to prevent the spread of the infection to other areas.
- Bleeding Gums: it may be pretty challenging to reduce bleeding before visiting a clinic. The best thing to do in this situation is to keep the head elevated and see an emergency dentist near you immediately.
- Something Stuck Between Teeth: use dental floss to remove stuck items between the teeth. If flossing doesn’t work, visit a dentist immediately. Avoid using sharp objects to remove anything stuck between the teeth
- Loose Braces: this may cause injuries to the mouth. Use orthodontic wax to hold the braces in place till you visit the dentist.
- Lost Crown: you can hold the crown in place with an over-the-counter dental cement or adhesive before visiting the clinic. Avoid using glue.
- Lost Filling: losing a dental filling may cause infections. Place a sugarless gum or over-the-counter dental cement in the cavity temporarily before visiting a dental clinic
What Are The Symptoms Of A Tooth Infection Spreading
Tooth infections occur when bacteria enter the tooth. An infection can occur due to a lack of proper dental hygiene, sugary food intake, and a side effect of some medications. It is best to visit a dental clinic there are signs of a tooth infection spreading. Symptoms of a spreading tooth infection include;
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Swelling in the face that impedes breathing or swallowing
- Dehydration
- Rapid pulse rate
- Darker urine
- Increased breathing rate
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Preventing Dental Emergencies
Although dental emergencies are common, some precautions can prevent these emergencies. Tips on avoiding dental emergencies include;
- Maintaining a proper oral hygiene
- Visiting a dentist regularly for checkups
- Having a balanced diet
- Using a mouth guard during sports
- Avoid eating hard foods
- Stop chewing nails or non-food items
- Limit sugary food and drinks intake
Conclusion
A dental emergency at night is unplanned. Not attending to an emergency can cause infections and permanent damage. The first-aid tips discussed in this article can help reduce discomfort and bleeding before visiting an emergency dentist