Conversations about First Aid often center around injury, disease, and mishap to almost every area of the body but the mouth, leaving many people to believe that damage to the teeth and gums isn’t treatable with first aid. This falsehood has cost many people teeth that could otherwise be saved or to think that certain dental conditions aren’t emergencies when in fact they are. In the article below we’re going to cover a number of dental emergencies and what you can do to treat them when they arrive.
Injuries To The Mouth And Loose Teeth
There’s a common misconception that even adults can experience a loose tooth without concern, but that simply isn’t the case. If you’ve fallen and injured your mouth and can now feel one or more of your teeth moving in your jaw, it’s time to visit the dentist. Be careful with your teeth while you’re on the way to the dentist, and if any of them have been knocked loose, keep them until you get there. Further, make sure they check to see if your jaw is broken in the ER, it’s a commonly overlooked concern.
Teeth That Have Been Knocked Out
If you’ve ever had a tooth knocked out it’s likely that you figured it was dead and gone and now you have to deal with this hole in your smile. This isn’t the case if you catch it right after it happens. The first thing to do in this case is to avoid touching the root. Grab it by the crown and attempt to place it back in the socket, ensuring it’s facing the correct way. If this isn’t possible drop it into a glass of milk and head to your dentist’s office. Failing either of these tuck it under your tongue. In any case, a trip to your dentist is immediately necessary, as it should be returned to its position within 30 minutes to help it survive.
Infections Are A Big Deal
When you’re experiencing a dental infection it’s important to know that this can be a serious issue. Infections mean there’s something gone awry in your body and immediate action needs to be taken. A trip to the dentist will get you prescribed antibiotic to fight the infection and, once it’s gone away an appointment will be necessary to determine its source and treat it. Left untreated serious problems can result, up to and including the infection getting into the bloodstream and the patient going septic as a result, a life-threatening condition.
These are just three of the most common dental emergencies that get overlooked by patients as a case of “nothing can be done” or “it isn’t dangerous”. If you’re experiencing any of these conditions pick up the phone and give Dr. Pallavi Kavety a call at Pasadena Children’s Dentistry in Pasadena, CA. They help patients like you understand what to do in the event of a dental emergency to ensure that an accident doesn’t lead to permanent consequences for your oral health.
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