Whenever someone faces a dental emergency, the immediate thought is to rush to the nearest dentist. However, not all dental emergencies are the same. While some dental emergencies are urgent, others are non-urgent which can be managed at home for few hours with the help of home remedies. It is important to know the difference between an urgent emergency and non-urgent one so that you can decide what to do next.
Knocked out tooth, excruciating pain in gums, excessive bleeding from gums, toothache, or injury to your jaw are examples of urgent dental emergency. On the other hand, fallen out filling, cracked tooth or dull toothache can be managed at home till you see the dentist next morning.
Tips to Follow in Case of Non-urgent Dental Emergencies
- Decide Whom to CallIt is recommended to call your local dentist and explain the dental emergency in detail. Depending on the severity of the situation, you would be given appointment for the next business day. On the other hand, for urgent emergency, you will be called immediately to the emergency room.
- Save the Damaged ToothIn case you happen to break the teeth, it is recommended that without wasting any time, you keep the tooth in a bowl of clean water or milk and rush to the emergency room as soon as possible. The milk or water will keep the tooth viable for longer and increases the chances of putting it back in the socket.
- Deal with Any SwellingYou need to keep the swelling to be at its minimum for which you can use an ice pack. Place the ice pack on the cheeks or a frozen vegetable bag will also do. Keep the ice pack on your cheeks till the time you reach the dental clinic.
- Use Hydrogen PeroxideTo avoid the risk of bacteria, it is recommended to use a solution of hydrogen peroxide ad water and swish it in the mouth for getting relief from the irritation. However, don’t swallow the mixture. Bring the mixture along to swish before you get treated.