When your teeth or gums hurt, it can be difficult to decide if you need emergency dental treatment or if you can wait and visit your dentist in Pefferlaw when you have the time.

Toothache

Tooth pain can be tough to deal with, leading to problems with eating, sleeping or even completing your normal everyday activities. Luckily, there are some situations that you can take care of at home without an emergency visit to a dentist.

One of the most common culprits for tooth and gum pain is a piece of food that has worked its way between your teeth or between your tooth and gums. If the area is visible, take a look and see if there’s anything there. If it’s too swollen or in an area that you can’t see, try gently brushing or flossing the area. Even rinsing your mouth with warm water may be enough to dislodge a stubborn piece of food.

After you remove the food, an over-the-counter pain reliever should be enough to help with the pain. Resist the temptation to place an aspirin on the area that hurts because it can cause lasting tissue damage.

A Knocked-Out Tooth

A tooth that’s been knocked out can be re-implanted in your mouth if you act quickly. Rinse the tooth off—never scrub it clean. If possible, put it back in its socket on the way to the dentist. If you can’t hold it there, then keep it in your mouth under your tongue or carry it in saline solution or milk.

Go for emergency dental treatment as quickly as possible. As long as you can get across Pefferlaw and to a dentist within 30 minutes of losing the tooth, there’s a good chance it can be re-implanted. If the trip takes longer, the chances of success start to diminish.

If your dentist can’t re-implant the tooth, ask about dental implant surgery. No one has to know that you’re missing a tooth.

A Broken or Cracked Tooth

If your tooth is broken, clean the area with warm water. Try to stay calm, even if the pain is extreme because of an exposed nerve. It’s important to visit a dentist right away, even if your tooth doesn’t hurt. Fixing broken teeth immediately helps you avoid possible painful and expensive complications in the future.

A cracked tooth may not hurt at all. In fact, you may not even notice the damage until you look in a mirror. Some cracks are so small that you may not be able to see them at all. If you bite into food without a problem but feel pain when you release the bite, you may have a cracked tooth. Visit a dentist before the crack gets bigger or the tooth breaks.

If you don’t have a dentist, find one in the Pefferlaw area who is accepting new patients. If it’s an emergency, most dentists will see you immediately since moving quickly can be crucial in some situations. During an emergency, it’s important to go for emergency dental treatment as quickly as possible.