Dental emergencies stink. They really do. Between their unexpected arrivals, the accompanying pain, and the fact that you’ve got to do something to prevent them from popping up again… they’re just the worst.
Thankfully, when dental emergencies do make unwelcome appearances, knowing where to find top-quality emergency dental care — and knowing what to do in the meantime — can help alleviate your pain and anxiety, prevent further damage, and restore your smile and bite to their healthy best!
Knowing When to See an Emergency Dentist
Certain symptoms clearly call for immediate care. Here are a few such dental emergencies:
- Severe and unrelenting tooth pain — Intense, throbbing pain that’s unresponsive to all at-home remedies may indicate an infection, abscess, or nerve damage.
- Swelling or abscess — Swelling around the gums, especially if accompanied by a fever, is a sign of possible infection that must be addressed immediately.
- Dental breakage — Whether from direct impact or biting down on a hard object, without proper care, a broken tooth will only worsen with time.
- Knocked-out teeth — The loss of an adult tooth is always an emergency. Fortunately, quick, decisive action after the incident can save the natural tooth!
Managing a Dental Emergency Before You See the Dentist
In an emergency, getting to the dentist as quickly as possible is the top priority. However, some simple steps in the meantime can help you manage the situation and increase the odds of a speedy and full recovery:
- When faced with intense and persistent pain, rinse with warm salt water and take over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce pain and inflammation until you can get to a dentist.
- For bleeding from the gum, rinse with clean water, apply gauze to the affected area, and maintain gentle pressure to stop the bleeding.
- If a tooth breaks, cover any sharp edges with gauze, save any fragments you find, and take them with you to the dentist.
- When an adult tooth is knocked out, rinse it off, handling it gently without touching the root, and place it either back in its socket in the jaw or in a container of milk and get to the dentist ASAP!
Finding the Best Emergency Dentist in Winter Springs, FL
If you’re in Winter Springs and need immediate dental care or simply want to be prepared just in case, contact Dr. Christopher Young and the caring and helpful Advanced Dental Care team to schedule an appointment.