Dental services
You Fell and Injured Your Mouth
If you are over the age of 10 and have all your adult teeth, you should never experience loose teeth. If you’ve fallen or had an accident, your tooth or several teeth may become loose. In this case when you’ve experienced trauma, you should call your dentist immediately. In fact, you should go to the emergency room if you’ve experienced a fall. On the way to the ER contact your dentist and explain what has happened. Ask if they can meet you at the ER. It is a good idea to ask your dentist to check and make sure your jaw isn’t broken. This may be overlooked in the ER
Tooth Knocked Out
If your tooth gets knocked out, do NOT touch it by the roots. Instead, pick the tooth up by the other side (the one you chew on) and do so very carefully. If at all possible, try to place your tooth back inside its socket. It is important to make sure you position your tooth back into the socket the correct way. You don’t want to place it in your mouth backward. If you can’t position it back in the socket, that’s okay. Put the tooth in a glass of milk and take it with you. If there’s no milk available, gently place your tooth in your mouth between your teeth and your gums. Your tooth must remain moist. It is important to call your dentist immediately. A knocked out tooth should be positioned back in your mouth within 30 minutes.
Abscessed Gums
While abscessed gums are a common type of dental emergency, they actually don’t look like it at first. In fact, a gum abscess looks like a pimple. It could be yellow, red, clear, or whitish, and you’ll find it located on your gum. An abscess usually means your tooth or gums are infected, which results in a root canal or an extraction. It is important to call your dentist immediately. Do NOT pop your abscess. It’s not a pimple. You should keep brushing and flossing the area until you are able to visit the dentist.
Broken Teeth
A broken tooth is annoying but usually not life-threatening. However, it all depends on how your tooth was broken and how much broke off. If it’s only a slight chip, there’s nothing to be too concerned about. Schedule an appointment with your dentist at your earliest convenience. If it’s a large break and especially if you’re in pain, contact your dentist immediately.
Bleeding
Bleeding in your oral cavity should not be taken lightly. If you see blood on your dental floss, it’s usually an early sign of gum disease or gingivitis. While not an emergency, it should be examined sooner rather than later to prevent further problems. However, blood in your saliva might indicate an advanced stage of cancer or an extremely advanced stage of gum disease. Bleeding from the mouth isn’t normal. Even if you’ve had a tooth extracted, bleeding that won’t stop is a problem! Keep your head elevated and call your dentist right away.
