How To Address Your Dental Emergency

If you have a dental emergency, such as a cracked or broken tooth, then you need to see us quickly to avoid complications like tooth decay or dental infection. But we also have a few tips to ease discomfort until we can see you to repair the tooth. In today’s blog, your Cleveland, TX, dentist talks about dental emergencies.

Giving Us a Call

When your dental emergency occurs, which could include any pain or damage in your smile, you should give us a call. Even if this happens outside of normal business hours, we can reach out and arrange a time to see you or your child and offer repair. Don’t delay, as damage could expose sensitive inner tooth structure to bacteria, increasing the risk of tooth decay and even infected or abscessed teeth. In many cases, we can use bonding and contouring to address damage in one visit, or provide improvement with a lifelike dental crown.

Addressing Common Situations

If you have an aching tooth, or an object caught between the teeth, then gently floss on either side and rinse with warm water. If this fails to address the issue, come see us and don’t use anything else besides floss, as you risk damaging the teeth or gums.

If a tooth is cracked or chipped, then rinse with warm water and use cloth or gauze to stem the bleeding. A cold compress against the side of the face could ease facial swelling. Try to recover and bring with you any pieces of the tooth you find.

If a tooth is knocked out, then pick it up by the crown, don’t touch the root. Gently rinse away dirt and foreign debris, but keep any tissues in place. You can then place it in the socket and bite down to keep it in place, or you can put it in a container of milk or salt water. Again, you can use cloth to stem bleeding and a cold compress to control facial swelling.

If a crown or filling is loose or lost, avoid very hot or cold foods and drinks, as the tooth is very vulnerable and exposed. Avoid sugary items for the same reason.

For all of these issues, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease discomfort.

Protecting Your Smile

To help protect your smile if you play sports or martial arts, be sure you talk to our team about a custom mouthguard. If you have any questions, then give us a call today.

Talk To Your Cleveland, TX Dentist About Emergency Dentistry

Our team wants to help you avoid the complications of an injured tooth. For more information about addressing and repairing damaged teeth, then contact your Cleveland, TX, dentist, Dr. Uhrenholdt, by calling (281) 592-1234.