Dental emergencies can be daunting, but with the correct knowledge and fast response time, you can protect your teeth and get back to normal in no time. Everyone will experience a dental mishap at some point – whether that’s a knocked-out tooth or an excruciatingly painful toothache. The key is being prepared for these situations so you know what to do when they arise. In this blog post, we’ll walk through all the steps of what to do when a dental emergency occurs so you know exactly how to respond quickly and effectively. 

The most common type of dental emergency is a cracked or fractured tooth. If you find yourself in this situation it’s important to rinse your mouth out with warm water immediately, as well as apply pressure to the area with a cold compress to minimize any swelling. If you feel comfortable, take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or aspirin. It’s important to note that in these cases time is of the essence – after 24 hours your chances of saving the tooth drop significantly so it’s important to contact a dentist as soon as possible for further advice. 

Toothaches are another common dental emergency and can be caused by many things such as cavities, gum disease, cracked teeth or even infection. The best course of action here is again to rinse your mouth out with warm water and apply pressure with a cold compress if there is any swelling present. You can also floss around the affected area if necessary. In this case, it’s important to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to receive further treatment. 

Knocked teeth are another dental emergency that can occur if you don’t take proper precautions when playing contact sports or participating in any type of activity where there is a risk of impact. If your tooth gets knocked out, the most important thing to do is rinse the tooth off and try to put it back into its socket – if you’re unable to do so then store it in a cup of milk until you reach the dentist. Again, time is key here – many teeth can be re-implanted successfully within 30 minutes of being knocked out so seek professional help as soon as possible. 

In rare cases, you may experience an abscessed tooth – this is an infection of the root and surrounding gum tissue which can occur due to bacteria getting into a cavity or crack in your tooth. Signs of an abscessed tooth include sensitivity to hot and cold drinks, fever, foul smell from the mouth and severe pain when biting down. If you think you may have an infected tooth it’s important that you seek professional advice as soon as possible. 

Dental emergencies can be extremely daunting but with the right knowledge and quick action, they don’t have to remain an emergency for long. At Renova Smiles, we are here to help – if you find yourself in need of urgent dental assistance please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are committed to providing fast and effective solutions for all your dental needs, so you can get back to life as usual in no time. For any dental emergencies, remember to contact us at Renova Smiles for an appointment to any of our offices or click the online booking tool on our website.