Dental emergencies are really frightening and painful. Most times, people are uncertain about what constitutes a dental emergency, whom they should contact, and what they can do at home to ease the pain when they face a dental emergency. Here are guidelines that will help tackle dental emergency until you reach the dental clinic for the treatment.

Dental emergencies are of two types, i.e. some are urgent, whereas others can wait to be treated. Therefore, it is necessary to differentiate between the two if you experience a dental emergency over the weekends or at nighttime when dental clinics are normally closed.

List of Urgent Dental Emergencies

•    Bleeding That Will Not Stop

•    A Loose or Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

•    Injured Jaw

•    Painful Swelling

•    Painful Toothache

If you experience any of the above-mentioned dental emergencies, then it is recommended to visit a dental clinic at the earliest. Call your family dentist; inform them about the condition right away. Most dentists, nowadays, have an emergency contact number so that their patients can contact them if they have dental emergencies outside of business hours. If you are unable to contact your family dentist, then visit any other dentists who can handle the problem efficiently.

List of Non-Urgent Dental Emergencies

•    Lost Filling, Crown, or Bridge

•    Broken or Cracked Tooth (unless the tooth is causing you severe pain)

•    Broken or Damaged Retainer or Night Guard

•    Food lodged between teeth

•    Dull toothache

Above mentioned is the list of dental emergencies that are not considered so urgent. However, it is still suggested to contact your dentist at the earliest.

Tips to Handle Dental Emergencies

Depending upon the type of dental emergency, you experience, there are things you can do to ease the pain and remedy the situation. Irrespective of the type of dental emergency, one of the most essential things you can do is stay calm. Staying calm at the time of emergency is essential, because when you get nervous, your body triggers a number of responses that may worsen the situation. Here’s a list of things you can do at the time of a dental emergency, and they are;

1.   If you are experiencing unbearable irritation and swelling, then dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a mug of hot water and use it as a warm mouthwash.

2.   If you have a tooth knocked out, put it in a glass of milk until you can get to your dentist.

3.   In case, you experience pain around one specific tooth, then floss that specific tooth because it is possible that food stuck between your teeth or inside the gum tissue might be triggering the pain.

4.   In case of bleeding, numb irritation and swelling, use a cold compress for relief.

Whom Should I Contact?

A dental clinic is an obvious place to visit when you face a dental emergency; however, in some cases, it may be best to go straight to the emergency room.  As a thumb rule, if you are experiencing unbearable pain or excess of bleeding, then you must go to the emergency room. If the problem is not that severe, then you can call your dentist and schedule at an appointment as soon as possible.

Dental emergencies are painful and frightening; therefore, you must know how to handle dental emergencies effectively. If you are living in Tysons Corner, then you can visit Smile Perfectors at the time of dental emergencies. For more information, please visit http://smileperfectors.com