subject: How To Care For Your Teeth During Dental Disasters [print this page] How long do you have to get to the dentist after your tooth has been knocked out? What should you do with your fallen out crown? Answers to questions like these are important to know if a dental emergency ever happens to you or someone you know.
Whether you're at home, at work or in the car, when a dental emergency strikes, you'll want to be prepared in order to alleviate the pain and save the damaged tooth. Getting to your Santa Maria dentist is always the best answer to finding relief and restoring your smile. In the meantime, follow these basic steps to ease toothaches, save broken teeth and repair lost fillings or crowns.
Agonizing Tooth Pain
There's not much worse than being at work, stuck in traffic or on vacation than an unrelenting toothache. And to make matters worse, what if you can't reach your dentist or the office is closed? Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to temporarily ease the pain until you can get into your regular dentist.
Excruciating tooth pain is usually a precursor to some other underlying dental problem, and immediate dental care should be sought to relieve the pain and identify the problem. But until you can get to your Santa Maria dentist, here are a few tips for dulling your toothache. First, rinse your mouth with warm water. This can loosen food particles and other lodged debris that may be causing you pain. Another common home remedy used to ease tooth pain is to apply clove oil to the sensitive area with a cotton swab for temporary pain relief.
Knocked Out Tooth
Dental injuries to the teeth most commonly occur due to falls, sports and other trauma such as an auto collision. One hard hit to the face is enough to knock out your tooth, one of the most serious dental emergencies for permanent teeth. Acting quickly when you lose your tooth is imperative to saving the tooth. While the nerves, blood vessels and supporting tissues can't be prepared, if your dentist can re-implant your tooth within an hour of the incident, you'll increase your chances of the supporting tissue reattaching to the tooth and holding it in place.
When your tooth is knocked out, first gently pick the tooth up by the crown and avoid touching the roots as this could damage the tooth. If possible, reinsert the tooth back into your socket. If not, tuck it between your cheek and gum or place the tooth in a small container of milk and take it with you to the dentist as quickly as possible.
Lost Filling or Crown
While not as urgent as a toothache or a knocked out tooth, misplaced fillings or crowns will need to be replaced by your Santa Maria dentist as the affected tooth will be weak and unprotected. Additionally, since the tooth tissue will be exposed to temperature, air and pressure, you may experience pain. Save the crown and make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible to replace your lost filling or crown. Meanwhile, apply clove oil or take over-the-counter pain medications as directed by your dentist to reduce any pain.
Dental emergencies can happen all too often at the most inopportune times. Fortunately, an unforeseen dental emergency can usually be prevented with early detection and preventative care. Practice good oral hygiene-brushing and flossing daily-and visit your Santa Maria dentist for regular check ups and cleanings. It's important to know what to do in case an unexpected dental disaster comes your way. But when your dentist office is closed and simple home remedies don't stop the pain, get to an emergency room as soon as possible for professional medical attention.
by: Gen Wright
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