All of those are good things, but what about emergencies affecting your teeth? Do you have the same confidence about handling dental emergencies as handling medical emergencies? Here’s what you need to know about when to call an emergency dentist in Chestermere and what to do until you get there.
Broken teeth
Your teeth are made of incredibly strong material and can withstand significant pressure — but can break. Common causes of broken teeth include sporting collisions, automobile accidents, slips and falls, acts of violence, and even simply biting down on too hard an object. Those same incidents can also cause damage and injury to your gums, tongue, and the inside of your lips and cheeks. If you’ve suffered a broken tooth or damage to the inside of your mouth in any type of incident, seek emergency dental care near you. They’ll address any risk of infection, help with the immediate pain, and may even be able to save your tooth.
Severe, sudden, and unexplained toothaches
Minor, fleeting, and occasional toothaches are unfortunate facts of life. Toothaches that worsen over time rather than getting better, or that are severe rather than annoying, or that are accompanied by fever, swelling, or a bad taste or smell in your mouth are not routine. They may indicate the presence of a serious tooth infection requiring emergency treatment to prevent more serious complications.
Bleeding gums
Everyone has experienced some bleeding from their gums when brushing or flossing. An isolated incident of bleeding that stops quickly is not something to be worried about — especially if you’ve already been diagnosed with gingivitis or periodontitis and are undergoing treatment. If your unexpected and unexplained bleeding persists, re-occurs time after time, or is accompanied by any swelling or pain, you should contact an emergency dentist in Chestermere.
Swelling in your mouth or jaw
Swelling in your mouth or jaw can indicate conditions as serious as gum disease, infections, swollen lymph nodes, and even some forms of cancer. The mere presence of swelling does not indicate the presence of those issues, but swelling warrants getting in touch with an emergency dentist near you right away — especially if combined with any of the other symptoms on this list — so your dentist can eliminate the biggest areas of concern.
Metallic taste in your mouth
If you have dental work in your mouth, the taste of metal can be a sign that some of that dental work is damaged or getting loose. The longer that situation persists, the more vulnerable the affected tooth is to further injury, and the greater the chance you’ll experience significant discomfort if the interior of your tooth or jaw is exposed. With time also comes an increased risk of infection due to the entry of bacteria into areas previously protected by sound dental work. Repair of dental work may not always have to be done on an emergency basis, but contact an emergency dentist near you and let them help you make that decision.
What to do until you get to an emergency dentist?
- In the case of a terrible toothache, rinse gently with warm water and look for any food stuck between your teeth
- In the case of a bitten tongue or lip, clean your mouth gently with warm water and place a cold compress against your face
- If you’ve had a tooth knocked out, retrieve the tooth, keep it moist, and try to put it back in its socket (but avoid touching the root)
- Is something stuck between your teeth? Don’t try to remove it with any sharp items or tools, but try to floss it out
- In the case of a cracked tooth, rinse gently with warm water and place a cold compress against your face
Emergencies are stressful, but emergency dentists are trained specifically to respond to emergencies quickly and effectively. The first step to managing an emergency is to contact an emergency dentist. You do not and should not face an emergency alone.