Guide To Dealing With Dental Emergencies
To avoid a dental emergency, it’s more important than ever to look after your teeth and gums in your daily routine.
Dental problems such as toothache, decay, sensitivity, broken fillings, bleeding gums and chipped teeth (with no pain) are issues that should be taken care of swiftly, but they may not be considered necessarily as emergencies, and you may find a dental practice give you an appointment not as quickly as with other emergencies that require immediate and urgent care.
If you experience any dental problems, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist by phone for advice. While it may not be possible to see you face-to-face right away, your dentist will support you and provide advice over the phone as best as is possible.
What is considered an emergency?
Below is a list of situations that are considered as emergencies:
- Facial swelling that extends to your eyes or neck
- Severe toothache that prevents you eating or sleeping
- Toothache with significant swelling or a fever
- A broken tooth that’s causing pain
- Bleeding due to trauma
Here are some tips on how to deal with non-emergencies at home before you have your appointment with your dentist:
Toothache
If your toothache is caused by a cavity (a small hole) in your tooth and it is taking long to get an appointment with a dentist, you can use a temporary filling kit to repair the damage. You can find these in most large supermarkets and pharmacies.
To stop your cavity from getting worse, keep it clean by brushing with fluoride toothpaste and reduce your sugar intake.
If you have some sensitivity, try rubbing a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth directly onto the affected area. An anti-inflammatory painkiller such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can also help to ease pain and sensitivity.
Bleeding gums
Mild gum disease can usually be treated at home just by improving your oral hygiene. Brush twice a day, making sure you clean along your gum-line using gentle, circular movements. Floss every day and don't forget to see your dentist and hygienist for regular check-ups, once the lockdown has been lifted.
If you have a build-up of tartar (hardened plaque, pictured below), you’ll need to see your hygienist for a professional clean as soon as is convenient for you.
Broken braces
Refer to a dedicated guide on how to tackle brace problems at home by clicking here. Thankfully, most issues can be resolved without a visit to your orthodontist.
If you are wearing Invisalign aligners, you can find more useful information by reading tips on troubleshooting Invisalign here.
Painful wisdom teeth
If your wisdom tooth is hurting, it’s likely that the gum covering your erupting or impacted tooth is inflamed.
Make sure you keep the area scrupulously clean, stick to soft foods and rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Corsodyl mouthwash can help to promote healing and prevent infection, but don’t use it for longer than a week, or it could cause staining.
Your symptoms should start to settle within a few days. You can take ibuprofen or paracetamol if needed.
Contact your dentist if you experience facial swelling, difficulty opening your mouth or trouble swallowing. You may need antibiotics if the infection is spreading.
Mouth ulcers
Ulcers can be extremely bothersome, but they should heal by themselves within 7–10 days.
You may find brushing painful, but it’s essential to keep the area clean. Rinse with warm salt water and use Difflam spray or mouthwash to reduce pain and inflammation.
An antimicrobial mouthwash such as Corsodyl can speed up healing, but extended use may lead to staining. If your ulcer is particularly painful, over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can help.
If you’ve had an ulcer or lesion for longer than three weeks, contact your dentist or doctor to arrange a check-up.
Tips to protect your teeth and gums
To minimise your risk of developing a dental issues, here are some helpful tips for you to follow:
- Brush your teeth morning and night using a fluoride toothpaste
- If you are wearing braces, brush after eating too
- If you are wearing fixed braces, clean carefully around your brackets
- Floss at least once a day using dental floss, interdental brushes, an air flosser or a water flosser (lots of options!)
- If you use a mouthwash, don’t rinse straight after brushing – it can wash away the fluoride from your toothpaste
- Don’t use your teeth to bite into anything other than food, for example, bottle caps!
- If you have fixed braces or loose fillings or crowns, avoid foods that are especially hard, chewy, sticky or crunchy
- Save sugary snacks and drinks for mealtimes (and try cutting back altogether)
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