Dental emergencies can happen anytime and often when you least expect them. While it’s important to seek professional dental care as soon as possible, there are some things you can do in the meantime to help ease your pain and prevent further damage.
Dr. Arden Bronstein, DDS, and his staff provide emergency dentistry services at their office in Hyattsville, Maryland, including root canals, extractions, and other operations to treat decayed or damaged teeth.
This blog post will share tips on handling common dental emergencies before reaching our office.
What is a dental emergency?
Any dental issue requiring urgent care to stop bleeding, lessen excruciating pain, or save a tooth is considered an emergency. This is also true of severe infections that pose a risk to life.
Here are several ways to handle common dental emergencies until you can make it to our office.
You have something stuck between your teeth
If you ever find yourself with something stuck between your teeth, the last thing you want to do is panic. Instead, try rinsing your mouth with some warm water. It’s usually the best way to dislodge whatever has become stuck.
Not only is this method effective, but it’s also painless, which makes it perfect for those nervous about poking around inside their mouth. Best of all, rinsing your mouth with warm water doesn’t require any special tools or ingredients, so nothing stops you from giving it a shot. Be gentle, and keep your toothbrush off to the side until after you’ve tried a good rinse!
You have a toothache
A toothache can be incredibly painful, making even everyday activities unbearable. One way to help minimize discomfort is to apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth near the affected area. This often helps reduce inflammation and swelling, as well as dull some of the pain so you can make a dental appointment and go on with your day.
A cloth soaked in ice water or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel make good cold compresses for toothaches. Remember to check with Dr. Bronstein if you have a persistent or severe toothache, as it could indicate a bigger problem that needs professional care.
You have a bleeding lip or tongue
If you’ve ever been in the unfortunate situation of biting your tongue or lip, we’ve got some helpful advice. Rinse the area with warm water to remove any blood or food that may have lodged there.
Then, gently apply pressure with a clean gauze pad or cloth to stop bleeding. If the area swells, you can use an ice pack to reduce inflammation.
You have a knocked out tooth
If you are unfortunate enough to have knocked out a tooth, try not to panic. Before you come into our office for treatment, try to find and bring the tooth with you. This helps us determine the best course of action to help preserve the tooth or even reattach it.
We understand that these situations can be very uncomfortable, but we want to assure you that our office will take every measure necessary to restore your smile and confidence.
Call our office right away if you experience any of these dental emergencies
When it comes to dental emergencies, it can be hard to know what to do. That’s why Dr. Bronstein and our team are here for you.
Whether it’s a toothache, chipped or broken teeth, lost fillings or crowns, it’s important to call us immediately. Our experienced team of professionals can help ensure that your dental health is restored quickly and effectively.
Hopefully you never experience a dental emergency, but if you do, call the office of Dr. Arden Bronstein at (301) 927-1616 to request an appointment. We’re always happy to help!
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