Keeping Your Cool With Summer Dental Emergencies
Summer is fully upon us! The kids are out of school, and everyone is ready to have fun in the warm summer sun. This summer couldn’t have come quick enough for most of us, so we are sure you are going to fully embrace everything the summer has to offer this year.
Whether you are staying close to home to enjoying everything East Texas has to offer or venturing out on vacation to more exotic places this summer, you should always be prepared in case a dental emergency occurs.
It is completely understandable to be nervous when a dental emergency occurs, but you can rest easy knowing that your local Lindale dentist is available on standby 24/7. It is always best though to know what types of dental emergencies you could see during the summer and how to keep your cool if they occur.
Today we’re breaking down the most common emergencies we tend to see.
Dental Emergency #1-Chipped or Cracked Tooth
If you experience a chipped or cracked tooth, the first thing that you should do is rinse your mouth with warm water. Then, if any pieces of your tooth have become loose and fallen out, you should collect those to take with you to your local dentist. If the area is bleeding, you will want to apply gauze to the area. A cold compress can help take down swelling and relieve pain.
The treatment that you will receive for your chipped or cracked tooth will depend on the severity of the injury. If you have a lot of pain associated with your injury then that means that the nerve that is inside of the tooth has been damaged as well. When this occurs, you may possibly need a root canal. However, it is important to call your dentist as soon as the injury occurs so you can be evaluated as soon as possible so the damage does not worsen.
Dental Emergency #2- Missing Tooth
Summer fun usually means a lot more activity. And usually a lot more activity means more opportunities for a tooth to be knocked out. Running around the pool, playing more sports, and everyone young, and young at heart, fully embracing everything that the summer has to offer.
If you find yourself with a missing tooth, there is hope that you can save your tooth if you are able to get to your dentist’s office ASAP. However, this is another great reason why it is important to save your local emergency dentist’s phone number in case of such an emergency.
Before heading to your dentist’s office, you want to make sure you handle your tooth properly. You want to avoid touching the roots of your tooth as much as possible. Try to pick up your tooth by the chewing surface of the tooth. To keep your tooth in the best shape for your dentist to be able to save it you can put the tooth in your cheek, saline solution, or as a last effort you can put the tooth in milk.
Dental Emergency #3- Toothache
Toothaches are a very common reason that we tend to see patients in the office during the summer, and all times of the year.
If you are experiencing tooth pain, you can rinse your mouth out with warm water and floss to make sure that you aren’t experiencing pain due to anything being stuck in the area. If you have swelling in the area, you can use an ice pack to reduce the swelling and use pain medications to help if wanted or needed. Many toothaches are caused due to minor issues.
However, if you are experiencing a toothache, we never want you to feel like you have to wait to give us a call. Sometimes tooth pain can be caused due to things such as cavities or other issues. Your health and comfort is always our top priority.
Save Our Number For Emergencies
Dental emergencies happen when you least expect it. No one wants to be calling the dentist mid-vacation. However, they do happen and when they do, it is better to be prepared.
If you are experiencing any type of dental emergency, there is no reason to delay calling the office. We are always here to help you no matter what your dental needs are. Be sure to save our number in case any emergencies arise (903) 231-6605.