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What to do at home if you have a dental emergency?

Sep 13, 2021

Dental emergencies can be terrifying, even if you are already at the dentist. When you experience one when you are still at home, it can be even more frightening! If your regular dentist is not open, you do not have the number of a 24-hour dental facility, and you are not sure if you want to go to the emergency room, it can be tough to figure out what to do.

What should I do first?

The first thing you should do is try to keep you and the people around you calm so you can tackle the issue with a level head. Next, you should give your regular dentist a call if they are open. If they are not, you should contact their emergency line if they have one or a 24-hour dental facility.

If you cannot contact any of those phone numbers, and the issue is severe enough, then you should consider visiting the emergency room to have your problem looked at.

What can I do at home to relieve pain and discomfort?

If the pain from the issue is too much for you, you can utilise a few home remedies to help ease the discomfort. Some of these remedies are:

In a mug of boiling water, dissolve a teaspoon of salt. When the salt has dissolved, and the water has cooled to a bearable temperature, use the solution as a mouthwash to reduce swelling and relieve irritation.

You can use a cold compress to reduce irritation, lessen swelling and stop any bleeding.
Take pain medication to alleviate pain and discomfort.

These methods can help reduce discomfort until you make your way to your dentist, a 24-hour dental facility or the emergency room.

Is it an urgent problem that needs treatment right away?

Many different issues can affect your teeth. While most dental problems are uncomfortable and seem urgent to the individual with them, not all of them require immediate medical attention. Even though it might seem like you need help right away, it could be an issue that can wait until your dentist opens.

Some urgent problems that require dental help as soon as you can find it are:

Continuously Bleeding Gums. It is not uncommon to occasionally bleed from your gums if you brush too hard or cut yourself on something sharp, so sometimes seeing some blood should not raise alarm bells. However, if your gums start bleeding and will not stop, you should seek attention from a dentist as soon as you can.

Painful Swelling. Swelling often occurs when there is an underlying issue. If the swelling is exceptionally bad and painful, you should quickly visit your dentist or 24-hour dental facility for treatment.

A Knocked-Out Tooth. There are several ways a tooth can unexpectedly get knocked out. If it was a permanent tooth and not a baby tooth, this can especially be a problem. When your tooth gets knocked out, you should find the tooth and put it in a glass of milk. If your tooth was just chipped, you should still try to find the teeth segments and take them with you. Once your teeth or teeth fragments have been recovered, try to find medical care as soon as you can.

Very Painful Toothaches That Will Not Go Away. Having a toothache once in a while is normal. However, if the toothache is exceptionally bad and the pain won’t go away, it could mean that it is a dental emergency.

If you experience any of these issues or otherwise experience an unbearable issue that you think requires immediate attention, you should contact your dentist or a 24-hour dental facility as soon as you can.

How can I prevent dental emergencies?

There are many ways that you can prevent any possible dental emergencies. However, some actions that you should strongly consider taking are as follows:

Go For Regular Checkups. When you regularly see your dentist for checkups, they will find and resolve any possible issues that you might have. When it comes to medical problems, a minor irritation can potentially lead to something much worse, so staying healthy and catching problems when they’re small is crucial to good health.

Even if you are not currently experiencing any dental issues, regular full mouth examinations can help identify any problems you haven’t noticed and keep your teeth healthy.

Take Care Of Your Teeth At Home. Even when you are not at the dentist, you can still take care of your teeth. Brush and floss them daily to prevent issues from growing.

Treat Your Teeth Well. If you are eating something particularly tough, like jerky or chewy candy, go easy on your teeth and don’t be too rough.

Where can I find a reliable family dentist?

If you are searching for a New Zealand family dentist that is reliable, affordable and will keep your teeth nice and healthy, look no further than Hamilton Family Dental. With our values and experience, we can help you keep your teeth clean and prevent any possible issues that could lead to an at-home emergency.

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