“It’s amazing how something so small can cause so much pain.”
We can’t tell you how often we’ve heard this from patients who see us for an emergency dental appointment.
Dental pain can range from irritating to unbearable – and your West Covina emergency dentist doesn’t want you to deal with any of it!
That is why we offer urgent dental care to patients who call us with pain. We also take time to educate our patients at their routine dental visits to help prevent emergencies.
Today, we want to give you a few tips that can help if you find yourself experiencing a dental emergency. Following these tips can help reduce your pain and ease your mind.
Before diving into today’s tips, let’s first take a moment to identify the most common dental emergencies. Knowing what can contribute to oral pain can help you take steps to avoid it and identify it if it does happen to you.
The most common types of dental emergencies are:
Here are some of the causes of these dental emergencies:
If you or someone in your care experiences a dental emergency, it is important to seek urgent dental care. Before you make it to your West Covina dentist’s office, follow these tips to help ease your pain and calm your nerves.
The very first thing you want to do is contact your dentist. They can inform you of steps to take to stop bleeding, protect a knocked-out tooth, and more. In some cases, they may even refer you to your local emergency room instead of recommending that you go straight to their office.
We recommend keeping your dentist’s contact information on your phone, so it’s easy to access. You can also keep their number on your “important contacts” list or even posted to your refrigerator.
If you have any facial swelling, place an ice pack at the swelling site. The ice will reduce the inflammation somewhat and reduce the pain.
Facial swelling is common after an extraction. However, it can also be an indicator of an abscess/infection. Even if the ice alleviates some of the pain and swelling, it’s imperative that you see your West Covina dentist for an evaluation. After an extraction, swelling should dissipate after a couple of days. If it doesn’t, contact your dentist.
Did you knock your tooth out? If so, collect the tooth, gently rinse it off, and place it in a container of milk or water to keep it hydrated. At times, it is possible to replace a knocked-out tooth. Unfortunately, if the tooth is dehydrated, it can die and may not be restorable.
If you lose a crown, place it in a plastic sandwich bag or envelope and bring it with you to your dental appointment. The loss of a dental crown isn’t always caused by recurrent decay. In some cases, we can clean the crown and re-cement it with zero issues.
When you’re experiencing dental pain, you might think that it would be a good idea to not only take a painkiller but to put one on your gums. Thinking this isn’t uncommon. After all, some people were taught to put a medication tablet under their tongue and let it dissolve, so it gets into the bloodstream faster.
Unfortunately, this is not the best course of action. Medications like painkillers are not meant to dissolve onto soft tissue. They’re meant to be swallowed and broken down by stomach acids. The tissues in your mouth are very delicate. Putting a painkiller directly on the tissue can actually burn the tissue, causing more pain and damage.
Pressure is your best friend if you’re bleeding. Direct pressure pushes the source of the bleeding against your jawbone or other facial bone. This action slows the blood flow and can even stop the bleeding.
There are several causes of oral bleeding, so it’s important to book an appointment with your West Covina dentist even if the bleeding stops. Bleeding can be a sign of:
Some dental emergencies are hard to foresee, and accidents happen. But you can significantly reduce your risk of having an emergency by:
Regular visits to your dentist can help keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong. A dental hygienist will clean the tartar that builds up below the gumline that can’t be removed with a toothbrush or floss. Doing this at least every six months can help reduce your risk of developing dental diseases like decay and gum disease.
And if you happen to develop a dental issue, seeing your dentist often allows them to catch problems before they turn into dental emergencies. For instance, your West Covina dentist can identify and treat the cause of minor tooth sensitivity so you don’t have to experience an unbearable toothache down the road.
If it’s been a while since your last dental visit, call our office to book your next appointment today.
Are you experiencing dental pain or discomfort? We want to help! Contact us at 626-605-6601 to schedule an evaluation.
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