Emergency Dentist Sugarland Tx
Dental emergencies happen and they are often unavoidable and unexpected. If you find that you are suffering from a dental emergency, it is vital for it to be assessed and subsequently treated as soon as possible. This is vital so you don’t end up in worse pain or suffering from permanent damage. As soon as you are in pain or something has happened, get in touch with your local dental practitioner without delay. One of the first things you will need to establish is whether or not it is an actual emergency or something that can wait. You will also need to check the severity of it and whether you need to go to your local emergency room or visit an emergency dentist.
What constitutes a dental emergency?
There are many things that can make up a dental emergency and it is important that what you are suffering from is a genuine emergency. Some things to consider when it comes to a dental emergency include:
Has the pain come on suddenly and is it accompanied by other symptoms? If your pain has suddenly started and is accompanied by profuse bleeding, swelling, dizziness and difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, difficulty opening your mouth it is important to get in touch right away. If in doubt, head to your local emergency room.
Have you lost a tooth? If you feel that you are losing a tooth or if your tooth has suddenly fallen out, this is considered an emergency. If you act quickly the tooth could still be saved, but it is important you get to an emergency dentist as soon as possible.
Do you have an infection? If you think that you have an infection, this is something that needs to get seen as soon as possible to avoid it turning into something more serious or even life-threatening. Some symptoms of an infection include swelling or bumps in your gums and a hot or swollen face.
What are some common dental emergencies?
Losing a tooth – If you have a tooth that has been knocked out then it is important to act as quickly as possible. The faster you act, the higher the chance that you can save the tooth. It is important that you pick your tooth up by the top or the crown and are careful not to touch the root. Clean it gently (but avoid scrubbing) and try to reinsert it into the socket. Once you have done this, either hold it in place with your finger, or close your jaw and lightly bite so it stays where it should be. If this is not possible, place the tooth in a container with water. This will help to keep the tooth moist and free from chemicals that might damage it.
A chipped or cracked tooth – If you have accidentally cracked or chipped a tooth, it is important to clean your mouth out with warm water. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and get in touch with your dentist as soon as possible. If it is just a small chip it could be left until normal hours, but if it has cracked to expose your nerve, it might need treatment much sooner. You might need an x-ray to diagnose the condition. It could be that you need a crown, but if the tooth pulp is damaged you might need a root canal.
An abscessed tooth – If you have a tooth abscess it is when the tooth has become infected and is severe. In some cases, an abscess can be life-threatening and therefore needs to get treated as soon as possible to avoid this. The reason the condition is so serious is that it can quickly spread to other areas of the body such as your jaw and surrounding tissue, making you very sick. Some of the symptoms of an abscess can include your teeth being sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, facial swelling, a fever, your lymph nodes in your neck feeling tender and bumps on your gums. Rinse your mouth with salt water to keep it clean and try to ease the pain, this should also aid with drawing pus up to the surface.
What do I do when I think I am experiencing a dental emergency?
If you find that you are suffering from any of the symptoms as above, it is important to get medical advice as soon as you can. Call your dentist’s office at the earliest possible convenience and see what they would advise. If they do not answer or it is out of hours, they should have an emergency phone number or instructions of what to do. The most vital thing of a medical emergency is not leaving it for too long. The quicker you get help and advice, the less likely it is to turn into something worse.
How to avoid dental emergencies from happening in the future
Go to regular dental check-ups
It is very important that you go to regular dental check-ups. Prevention is always better than cure and they can find any potential problems way before you can even spot them. They can see things such as the onset of gum disease, dental decay and the beginning formations of any abscesses. They can also examine for signs of mouth cancer, head and neck cancer so this can be potentially life-saving by catching them early. Your dentist can also show you the best way to prevent gum disease, showing the best way to clean your teeth and will also remove plaque and tartar in your appointment.
Take good care of your teeth
It is important to take care of your oral hygiene to prevent any issues happening with your teeth. Your teeth are covered in a protective coating called enamel, but each day bacteria can build up on them which causes cavities and can harm the enamel. Brushing and flossing is a good way to prevent this from happening and keep your teeth healthy. You should brush your teeth gentle on all sides with a soft bristle brush and brush for at least two minutes. Don’t forget to floss too as this can remove food and plaque that your toothbrush might not be able to get to.
Make note of any persistent pain to your teeth or gums
If you find that you have any niggly pain in your teeth and gums, it is a good idea to make note of it. While it might not be anything serious, it could be an indicator that something is not as it should be. Take note of when these symptoms started, if they occur after eating anything in particular and what you can do to help ease the pain. If it is persistent, then it is worth talking to your dentist about. It could be that you grind your teeth when you are asleep, or it could be the start of a tooth decay that might need a filling in the near future.
Cut out the amount of sugar you consume
While a lot of us love to eat sugary food and drink fizzy drinks, it is important to cut out the amount of sugar you consume. Sugary food is one of the leading causes of tooth decay and can cause you many problems with your teeth in the future. When your mouth bacteria breaks down the sugar that has come into your mouth, it produces acid; this, in turn, dissolves the tooth surface. Sugar occurs both in natural food and drinks such as honey, apples and apricots, as well as processed foods such as sweets, fruit juices, sugary cereals and sauces. While you can’t cut out sugar completely from your diet, try and cut down as much as you can and swap for sugar-free alternatives. If you do have some sugary food or drinks, then it is important to brush as soon as you can once you have eaten. This will mean that it is rinsed from your mouth much quicker, avoiding any potential problems.
Wear a protective mouthguard when you play sport
One of the most common and easily-avoidable ways that people break or crack their teeth is through playing sport. Next time you are playing a sport, particularly a contact sport such as rugby or hockey, it is worth getting a mouthguard. According to the American Dental Association (ADA) more than 200,000 oral injuries are prevented each year, simply by the wearing of a mouthguard. A mouthguard is a plastic cover that goes over your teeth and gums and means that if your mouth comes into contact with something, it is protected.
Make sure that you stay hydrated
Drinking water not only improves your physical health but your dental health too. By drinking plenty of water, it will rinse off the residue and acid that is left behind from the food that you have eaten over the day. Without this rinsing, it could mean that bacteria and sugar are left on your teeth all day, causing cavities to form. Staying hydrated is also a great way to keep your mouth wet and generate enough saliva – otherwise, your teeth can become clogged with food. Most tap water contains fluoride which helps to strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities too.
Face any dental fears you have
If you are scared of the dentist, it can mean that you don’t go as often as you should, meaning that important issues could be missed and left until it is too late. The last thing you want is there to be many avoidable cavities that could have been fixed by a simple filling, but now you need to have root extraction as they got too bad. If you are scared of going to the dentist, there are many courses you can take or reading materials that you can immerse yourself in which should help you to get rid of the fear. You will find that once you are no longer scared, you are in a much better mental health state, as well as having better oral hygiene and fewer problems in the future.
These are just a few things you need to know about going to the emergency dentist. Be sure to take care of your oral hygiene and always phone up your dentist for help if you are unsure if something is an emergency or not. It is always better to be safe than sorry so give Grand Parkway Smiles a call at 8322220016 today!