Three Common Dental Emergencies

Just like the rest of your body, there can be an emergent situation with your teeth. When you do suffer a dental emergency, you need to get to the dentist as soon as possible. How will you know it's an emergency? Most likely if there is severe pain or heavy bleeding, it is an emergency situation.

Here are three of the most common dental emergencies.

1. Your Tooth Gets Knocked Out

Whether you get hit by someone or you have some other kind of accident, if force has been applied to your mouth, it could result in a tooth getting knocked out. If this happens, you're not alone as each year, five million teeth get knocked out. When your tooth gets knocked out, try to salvage it in case the dentist is able to reattach it.

If it's dirty, it's best if you can rinse it off with water before putting it back into its socket. Your tooth should be kept moist at all times, and if it won't stay in its socket, put it in some milk. You should try to see the dentist within 30 minutes of the tooth getting knocked out.

2. Your Tooth Gets Cracked

Your tooth may be extremely hard, but it can still crack. A cracked tooth is usually caused by

  • Chewing on hard foods or ice
  • Grinding your teeth
  • Experiencing a sudden change in temperature inside your mouth

You might not actually be able to see a crack in your tooth, but you will most likely feel pain. Your tooth might also become more sensitive to cold or sweets, and you might also notice swelling in the gums around your cracked tooth.

3. You are Experiencing Jaw Pain

If you have hurt your jaw and are experiencing pain, you should see your dentist as soon as possible. While there are many things that can cause jaw pain, including a disorder called TMJ, problems with your sinuses, or certain types of headaches, jaw pain can also be the result of a tooth abscess.

This is a condition that is caused by a bacterial infection and is extremely dangerous when left untreated, as it can infect the bone of the tooth. In the worst cases, a tooth abscess can infect the bloodstream. If it is a tooth abscess, you might also have swelling in your face, a fever, and extreme sensitivity to hot or cold foods.

For more information on dealing with emergency dental situations, contact a clinic such as Centre Family Dentistry.


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