You cracked a tooth after a fall. Your child got a tooth knocked out while playing sports, Or you’re suffering from a toothache from an abscessed tooth.
Dental emergencies can happen at any time. What do you do when they happen? Call and schedule treatment right away. Contact the team at Blue Sky Dental. Our North Vancouver emergency dentist strives to preserve your teeth.
A dental emergency typically means there is a high risk of severe gum bleeding, severe tooth pain or even permanent tooth loss. When you have a dental emergency, it’s important to visit your dentist or an emergency room as soon as possible.
Accidents happen. Knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. Here’s a guide to dealing with dental emergencies as well as some tips for preventing them from occurring in the first place.
Tips for Common Dental Emergencies
Here are some things you can do to handle dental emergencies:
- For a knocked-out permanent tooth, it’s important to keep it moist at all times. The best option is to try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root, if at all possible. If that’s not possible, place the tooth between your cheek and gums or put it in milk. Then, get to the dentist as soon as possible.
- For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water. This will help clean the area and prevent infection. If there is swelling, you can reduce it with cold compresses.
- If you bite your tongue or lip, you don’t typically need to see a dentist but it can be quite painful. You should gently clean the area with water and apply a cold compress to keep swelling down. If there is excessive bleeding, use gauze to apply pressure to the bleeding site and hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes.
- For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water. This will help clean out the area and possibly alleviate pain. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between the teeth.
- For objects stuck in between teeth, try to gently remove them with floss. However, avoid sharp, pointed instruments such as needles.
Preventing Dental Emergencies
The best way to handle dental emergencies is to prevent them from happening in the first place.
- Visit the dentist regularly. You should visit the dentist twice a year for a dental exam and cleaning. The dentist can remove stubborn plaque deposits that cannot be cleaned by regular brushing. At your appointment, they will provide preventive care and carefully examine your mouth for signs of oral health issues. If you fail to visit the dentist, you put yourself at the risk of cavities and gum disease.
- Watch what you eat. Starchy and sticky foods can get stuck in the teeth and be hard to remove. This can cause bleeding gums as well as a lot of pain.
- Avoid chewing on hard foods. Ice, popcorn kernels, and hard candy can crack a tooth. You should not be using excessive force to chew foods.
- Never use your teeth to cut things. This can cause them to crack or come loose. If you need to open a bag or other package, use scissors or a knife.
- Use mouthguards when playing sports. Mouthguards are beneficial, as they help shield the teeth from damages by absorbing heavy blows to the mouth. Ideally, you should wear mouthguards when participating in contact sports and recreational activities that have a high risk of falls and heavy blows.
- Stay healthy. Vitamins and water are keys to healthy teeth. Vitamin C plays a vital role in the growth and maintenance of teeth. Calcium helps strengthen your enamel. Vitamin A is a key nutrient for gum health as well as tooth enamel. You will also need to drink plenty of water. Your body needs plenty of water so it can produce enough saliva to help wash away excess food particles, old skin cells, and bacteria. Saliva also has minerals that protect your teeth from decay.
Contact Our Exceptional North Vancouver Dentist Today
Dental issues do not always happen during regular business hours. Sometimes they require immediate care — on evenings or weekends.
The team at Blue Sky Dental is dedicated to providing quality emergency dental care to North Vancouver and its nearby area. We have the capacity to handle numerous emergency dental situations. To schedule an appointment, give us a call at (604) 330-1605 and we’ll get you in as soon as possible.
