Dental emergencies are never fun, but, at the same time, they don’t have to be devastating. There are things that you can do when faced with unexpected dental trauma, to improve your dental prognosis, and minimize secondary damage. Keep reading to learn more from our Elmhurst emergency dentists!
The first thing to do is to decide whom you will call in an emergency situation. Talk to your dentist about whether they offer emergency care. If they don’t, do they have a recommendation on whom to call? You want to make sure that the contact information for your emergency dentist is in an easily accessible place—maybe in your phone or on your fridge. Once you’ve taken this step, you have already eliminated a potential future stressor.
There are also a few general rules to keep in mind when dealing with a dental emergency. Following these simple guidelines will help you get the most effective restorative care possible:
- Retain as much natural dental material as possible
As much as possible, try not to disturb or clear away loose oral tissues and roots. If your tooth is knocked out, it is best to gently place the tooth into its socket, and hold it there until you can get to your dentists. If this is not possible, or if it is painful, place the tooth—with any attached roots and tissues—in a glass of milk.
- Avoid irritants
Do not put pain killers and medications directly on your damaged smiles, as these can actually cause more damage. Instead, numb the affected area with an ice pack on the outside of your cheek. Follow all directions when using over the counter oral pain killers.
- Clean gently
When your smile is damaged, your regular cleaning routine may be too abrasive and invasive. The safest bet is to gently rinse your mouth with room temp/warm water and salt to refresh your smile until you can see your dentist. Keep in mind that brushing and flossing can be very painful if you have exposed nerves or roots.
Our Elmhurst emergency dentists offer prompt dental care to help our patients overcome dental trauma and get back to their normal routines. So, don’t hesitate to give us a call, or use the Contact Us page on our site to reach out!