What Should You Do if You Have a Sudden Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies are almost always painful and disorienting. If you’ve never had a sudden problem with your teeth before, you might not know where to turn to. At Implant & Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL, an emergency dentist can treat almost all issues, including ones related to implants, bridges, and dentures. However, you might need to go to the emergency room when we’re not available, especially if your issue is urgent.

Problems with the teeth rarely go away on their own, and they often get worse over time. For this reason, you’ll need to see a dentist as soon as you start to notice pain. We will take images of your teeth to figure out what the problem is and then propose appropriate solutions. Read on to find out more about dental emergencies and how to deal with them.

What Should You Do if You Have a Sudden Dental Emergency?

The first thing you need to do is figure out whether your dental problem is a true emergency. If you’re in a lot of pain and the clinic isn’t open when the problem occurs, you might need to go to the emergency room. However, you can call us whenever we’re open, and we’ll try to fit you in right away. Some dental problems like a lost filling or a broken tooth might seem like emergencies, but they can wait for a few days.

When To Go to the Emergency Room

During office hours, we’ll offer you an appointment, whether you have an acute emergency or not. But if your problem occurs at night or on the weekend, you might not be able to book an appointment for several hours. In this case, you’ll need to figure out whether your problem is an emergency or whether you can wait. A good rule of thumb is that you need immediate help if you can’t carry out your regular daily activities, even with over-the-counter painkillers.

Issues that require urgent care include a knocked-out tooth, an injured jaw, pain accompanied by swelling of the cheeks or mouth, gums that won’t stop bleeding, extreme tooth sensitivity, and a very painful toothache. At the emergency room, you might get immediate relief, and the doctors will check that your health isn’t in danger. Once the immediate issue has been dealt with, book an appointment at your dentistry clinic.

When Ro Book an Appointment with the Dentist

Some dental problems are annoying and painful, but they don’t require a trip to the emergency room because they aren’t dangerous. These include a dull toothache, food stuck between two teeth, mild tooth sensitivity, a broken night guard or retainer, a broken or cracked tooth that isn’t causing a lot of pain, and a lost crown, bridge, or filing.

Although these aren’t considered true emergencies, they still need to be dealt with. If your issue occurs outside of office hours, call us as soon as we’re open. We’ll try to offer you an appointment with an emergency dentist on the same day or on the next day, so we can have a look at your teeth and resolve the problem.

What To Do at Home While You’re Waiting

Before you do anything else, take a deep breath, and calm down. After you hurt your teeth, you might feel stressed, but it’s important to think rationally and put things into perspective. Most dental problems are fixable, and it’s likely that your dentist can resolve your issue within one or two office visits. Until you can see them, try some home remedies. To relieve swelling and irritation, dissolve some salt in boiling water, and use the mixture as a mouthwash.

Taking over-the-counter painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs is also a good idea. Just make sure you stick to the recommended dose. If your pain is located around one tooth, use dental floss to clean the area. You might be able to dislodge food stuck between your teeth and therefore get rid of your pain. A cold compress helps you to numb the pain, stop the bleeding, and reduce the swelling.

Why Am I Suddenly Experiencing Pain?

There are many reasons why patients experience pain in and around their mouths. Sometimes, the problem is directly related to the teeth. Cavities occur when a tooth decays and gets damaged due to microorganisms. This kind of pain can start gradually, but it can also be sudden and sharp. Another potential issue is gum disease, which is most common in people over 65 and those who don’t have good brushing and flossing habits.

You might also be in pain because you grind your teeth at night, or you clench your jaw. These habits can not only make your jaw muscles ache, but they also wear down your teeth over time. Some oral rinses contain acid that breaks down your teeth’s dentin. This can make your teeth more sensitive and cause pain when you eat very cold or hot foods.

What Will an Emergency Dentist Do?

The first thing your dentist will do is diagnose your condition. Sometimes, it’s clear what is causing the problem, but at other times, imaging studies such as x-rays are necessary. Then, the dentist will explain to you what has happened and why, and they will propose solutions. Usually, issues can be treated right away, but sometimes, you’ll need to come back to the clinic several times.

How Can I Prevent Dental Emergencies?

There are several things you can do to prevent a dental emergency. The first one is to always maintain good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day with a dentist-recommended toothpaste that contains fluoride, and floss at least once a day. Some people also like to use mouthwash, but make sure the product you use is safe and doesn’t contain harmful acids. Too much mouthwash is counter-productive because it kills the microbiome in your mouth.

In addition to practicing oral hygiene, visit your dentist at least once a year, and try to avoid the foods that are most likely to cause dental problems. If you have braces, bridges, or implants, speak to your dentist about how to keep your mouth clean.

How Often To See the Dentist

An emergency shouldn’t be the only reason you see your dentist. In fact, it’s important to have a checkup at least once a year. During this appointment, your dentist will check your gums, mouth, and teeth and let you know whether everything is healthy. They might take an x-ray to look for cavities and other anomalies.

The checkup is extremely important because it’s almost always easier to fix small problems than to wait until they’ve become emergencies. A minor cavity can be reversed with fluoride treatment, but a larger one needs to be filled. If the decay has reached the soft tissue in the middle of your tooth, you might even need root canal treatment.

Foods To Avoid

We regularly see patients whose teeth have been damaged by food. To prevent this issue, try to avoid certain kinds of food, which are most likely to cause damage. These include hard candies that could crack or break your teeth, chewy substances that could loosen them, and foods with sharp edges, which could damage your gums.

Some substances are also more likely to cause tooth decay than others. Sour candies, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and sweets with large amounts of sugar are best avoided. Alcohol dries out your mouth, so it reduces the amount of healthy saliva available. Although citrus fruits like oranges or lemons are full of vitamin C, they can erode your enamel. Always brush your teeth after eating them.

What About People with Braces, Bridges, or Implants?

For people who have never had an issue with their teeth, maintaining good oral hygiene is relatively simple. But what about those who have braces, bridges, or implants? How can they make sure their teeth stay healthy? If you have metal braces, speak to your doctor about brushing and flossing your teeth. There are certain tools, like special kinds of dental floss, which can help you to keep your teeth clean.

Patients with implants and bridges can usually clean their teeth like they did before they were treated. However, they might benefit from seeing their dentist and hygienist at least twice a year.

Get Treatment for Your Dental Emergency Now

Almost everyone experiences a dental emergency at some point in life. The first thing to do is to determine whether you need to go to the emergency room or whether it’s okay to wait a few hours until your emergency dentist can see you. Call us at Implant & Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL, and book an appointment with us. We can help in emergencies, and we perform cosmetic, comprehensive, and implant dentistry.