If you ever experienced a sudden dental emergency, you may remember how distressing it can be! Intense throbbing toothache can be paralysing and make you anxious due to the pain and the subsequent dental care. A cracked tooth due to a sports injury or a fall is a dental emergency that can remain a traumatic experience for you. Anyone experiencing such an abrupt dental crisis and trauma will see their daily life impacted with constant pain and many doubts about possible permanent damage. Overall, dental emergencies bring much stress, and it is essential to know the dental emergency steps. This article will guide you through the crucial steps for handling dental emergencies before you visit your dental clinic in Parramatta.
Toothache
You first may know that a toothache can have many meanings; it is a signal from your body that lets you know something is wrong. Severe toothache may be a symptom of tooth decay, enlarged infection in the gums, advanced periodontal disease or crack formation. A simple gesture can help relieve the pain. Apply gently swish warm salt water inside the mouth to remove any food residue that may be stuck and cause discomfort. You can also bite on a clove bud with natural oils containing eugenol, a compound with mild anaesthetic and antimicrobial properties that will neutralise the pain momentarily. When the pain is too severe, take some painkillers to get instant relief.
Cracked tooth
Injuries, accidents or teeth grinding can lead to a crack in your tooth, which can add stress to your traumatic experience. To limit the pain, renounce any hot or cold food and beverage, take pain relief medication and use sugar-free gum to seal the cracked tooth. Those three steps minimise further damage to your tooth while waiting for your appointment with your dentist in Parramatta.
Chipped tooth
Accidents, hard bites or injuries can sadly affect and chip your tooth, leading to a small tooth break. It is painful and will become a tooth infection in the open crack if not cared for by a proper dentist. First, rinse your mouth with salty water, then dab a sterile cotton pad near the injured area to remove loose shards. You will find in a pharmaceutical store some orthodontic relief wax that you could apply on the damaged teeth to get a temporary cover until you get to your specialist.
Knocked out tooth
If your tooth fell out from the gum after your injury, it is essential to look for it so you may have hope of replacing it in its socket. When you find it, rinse it under water without scrubbing the root fibres and try to put it back in its socket by yourself. Suppose you can’t, place it in a milk/saline solution and drive to your dental clinic immediately. The faster you arrive, the better, as the tooth is less likely to deteriorate.
Abscessed tooth
Having an abscess in your tooth can be extremely painful, as it means a sac with pus is in it. An abscessed tooth usually has a foul taste and requires immediate dental care. To minimise the pain, you must drink and eat cool, smooth food. Brushing your infected tooth gently around the abscess may help keep the bacteria levels lower until you receive professional help at your dental clinic in Parramatta.
Summary
A dental emergency requires the expertise of your dentist. As you may have some hours of delay before the care, follow those tips to keep the pain manageable and minimise the tooth damage.