When a dental emergency strikes, it can turn a normal day into an excruciating experience. From a sudden injury to a debilitating toothache, these dental problems may require immediate attention to alleviate the pain or prevent more damage. It’s important, then, to understand what to do in a dental emergency. Whether it means taking preventive measures or having an emergency dental kit set aside, these tips can help you maintain your oral health. Here is a helpful dental emergency guide.

1. Toothache

A toothache can cause mild discomfort or it can leave you in agony, affecting your ability to eat and sleep. There are many reasons a toothache may occur and why it may end up being a dental emergency.

Tips to Avoid Toothaches

Try to brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. This will remove any plaque buildup in your mouth. It’s also a good idea to floss daily to remove any plaque or food particles caught in between your teeth or under your gum line. An antibacterial mouthwash can also help kill any lingering bacteria in your mouth.

Eating a healthy diet is crucial, too. The bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar, so try to limit eating sugary foods and drinks. Instead of drinking soda and juices, drink lots of water instead. Water helps wash away acid and bacteria in your mouth. Try to eat a balanced diet. Calcium, for example, can help strengthen your teeth.

If you smoke or vape, consider quitting altogether. Tobacco products not only stain your teeth, they also increase your risk of gum disease.

Finally, try to visit your dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups. At Ranieu Family Dental, we can examine your mouth to see if there are any cavities or issues with your gum.

2. Chipped or Broken Teeth

One of the most pressing dental emergencies is a chipped or broken tooth. Quick action is crucial to save the tooth and prevent further damage. Here are some reasons a chipped or broken tooth may occur.

Tips to Avoid Chipped or Broken Teeth

One of the best ways to avoid chipped or broken teeth while playing sports is by wearing a sports mouthguard. Mouthguards can be custom-fitted so that your teeth are always protected from impacts. For those who grind their teeth at night, it’s a good idea to purchase a night guard. A night guard can protect your enamel and prevent damage caused by grinding.

Try to avoid biting down on hard objects or food, especially with your front teeth. Cut food into smaller pieces and then chew them with your molars. Practicing safe habits is important, too. Instead of using your teeth to open bottles or packages, use tools or bottle openers.

3. Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth can be one of the most scariest experiences. Besides being painful, it can result in permanent damage if you don’t seek immediate dental care. Although you can avoid experiencing a knocked-out tooth to some degree, it’s more important to learn what steps to take if it does happen.

As with a chipped tooth, a knocked-out tooth can occur if you receive a blow to your face, if you have a vehicle accident, or if you’re involved in a sports injury like boxing. You may also lose one or more teeth if you have a physical confrontation that involves punches. In addition, some jobs that involve heavy machinery or tools may increase the risk of facial injuries.

Tips to Avoid Knocked-Out Teeth

The best way to prevent losing a tooth while on the job is to wear a helmet or a faceguard. Helmets and faceguards can prevent facial injuries during sports activities or while you’re at work. If you participate in contact sports, wear a custom-fitted mouthguard.

What to Do If You Lose a Tooth

While it may be difficult to avoid getting your tooth knocked out – especially if there’s an unavoidable accident – you should know what to do if something like this happens. Here’s a step-by-step dental emergency guide:

• Pick up the knocked-out tooth by the crown and not the root.
• Rinse the tooth carefully.
• If possible, try to place the tooth back in its socket.
• If you can’t put the tooth back, keep it moist by storing it in a saline or a milk solution.
• Make an appointment with an emergency dentist in Vancouver WA immediately.

Remember, if your tooth gets knocked out, it can be saved and inserted back into its socket if you see a dentist as soon as possible.

4. Lost Dental Fillings or Crowns

Lost dental fillings or crowns are common dental emergencies that can cause pain. Although they may not seem like an emergency, they can expose the underlying tooth, potentially leading to more damage. If you lose your filling or crown, make an appointment as soon as you can with an emergency dentist in Vancouver WA.

Here are some reasons a lost dental filling or crown can occur.

Tips to Avoid Losing Fillings or Crowns

To extend the lifespan of your fillings or crowns, maintain good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily will prevent your teeth from decaying around your restorations.

Preventive care is the best way to ensure your fillings or crowns are in good condition. At Ranieu Family Dental, our dentists can monitor the condition of your dental restorations and let you know if there are potential issues. Besides checkups, we can remove any plaque or tartar buildup. This can help maintain the health of your restorations as well.

Avoid eating sticky foods as sticky foods can pull your fillings out. You should also avoid chewing on hard foods as you may accidentally crack your crowns.

What to Do If You Lose a Filling or a Crown

Try to address dental issues as soon as you can. If you sense that a restoration is loose, make an appointment with one of our dentists. We can restore fillings or crowns before they fall out.

However, if your dental restoration falls out, do the following:

• Try to save the restoration. Sometimes, dentists can re-cement the restoration of your tooth.
• Use over-the-counter dental cement to temporarily protect your tooth. This will help protect your exposed tooth until your dentist appointment.
• Try not to chew on the affected side.
• Use over-the-counter pain medication to relieve any pain or physical discomfort.
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water twice a day to keep the area clean and to wash away any bacteria in your mouth.
• Schedule a dentist appointment as soon as possible.

5. Abscess

An abscess is an infection that causes severe pain and swelling around the affected area. Symptoms of an abscess include a throbbing toothache, swelling in your cheek, sensitivity to hot or cold in the affected area, and tender lymph nodes. You may also experience pus draining from the area. To prevent the infection from spreading, make an appointment immediately with our emergency dentist Vancouver WA.

Here are some reasons an abscess may occur:

Tips to Avoid Getting an Abscess

An abscess is extremely painful, so it’s best to avoid experiencing one. To avoid any type of tooth infection, brush and floss your teeth daily. This will remove food particles and bacteria that can cause an infection. You can also use an antibacterial mouthwash to reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth.

Make sure to schedule bi-annual checkups with our dentists at Ranieu Family Dental. Our dentists can catch and treat cavities and gum disease early, before they develop into a major issue. You’ll also get X-rays once a year. X-rays are an excellent way for our dentists to inspect your teeth and detect problems.

What to Do If You Have an Abscess

If you have an abscess, do the following:

• Take an over-the-counter medication to relieve the pain.
• Rinse with salt water two to three times a day to prevent the infection from spreading.
• Make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible.

If you suspect you have an abscess, you must get treatment. An abscess won’t go away on its own. Our dentists at Ranieu Family Dental can perform a root canal, drain the abscess, or remove the affected tooth.

6. Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries to the lips, cheeks, gums, or tongue can be painful and may require stitches. There are several reasons these injuries occur.

Tips to Avoid Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries can be hard to avoid, especially if the injury was due to an accident. However, if the accident occurred during a sports activity or while sleeping, consider investing in a mouthguard or night guard.

Avoid eating hard or sharp foods, and chew slowly. This can reduce the risk of injuries while biting down on food.

If you have soft tissue injuries from your braces or retainers, get regular dental checkups to adjust your braces so they don’t cause additional injury.

What to Do If You Have a Soft Tissue Injury

Unfortunately, soft tissue injuries can happen to anyone. Here is what to do if you experience one:

• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water two to three times a day to wash away any bacteria in your mouth. This reduces the risk of infection.
• If you’re bleeding, use some gauze to apply pressure to the bleeding area. Hold the gauze in place until the bleeding stops.
• If the area is swollen, apply an ice pack to the outside of the affected area to reduce swelling.
• Avoid spicy or acidic foods and drinks as these could irritate your injury.
• Make an appointment with your dentist if the injury is severe.

7. Broken Orthodontics

Broken orthodontics can be painful, may disrupt your orthodontic treatment, and can result in more serious health issues. If your braces or retainers break, they need to be fixed by a professional. Here are some reasons you may experience broken orthodontics.

Tips to Avoid Broken Orthodontics

When you get fitted for braces or retainers, our dentists will give you guidelines on which foods to avoid. Hard and sticky foods can damage braces and retainers, so we typically recommend softer foods. If you do eat harder foods, we recommend that you cut them into smaller pieces to reduce the pressure on your orthodontic appliances. If you play sports, such as basketball, football, or hockey, wear a mouthguard to protect your mouth from injuries.

You should also inspect your braces or retainers regularly for signs of damage. If you see any issues, make an appointment with your orthodontist. Orthodontists also recommend that you get regular check-ups so they can make the necessary adjustments to your appliances.

Finally, handle your braces and retainers with care. When removing your retainers, remove them gently to avoid bending or breaking the wires. Store them in a safe place until you are ready to re-insert them. Try to avoid using your teeth to open bottles as this can put undue stress on your braces and break them.

What to Do If Your Orthodontic Appliances Break

If your braces or retainers break, assess the damage. If the damage is minor and causes very little discomfort, you may be able to wait until your next appointment. However, if the damage is more severe, you can contain the damage by doing the following:

• Use over-the-counter orthodontic wax to cover any sharp, broken edges. This can prevent the broken edges from poking and injuring your cheeks and gums.
• Sterilize tweezers with rubbing alcohol and try to push any wires back into place until your next orthodontist appointment. If the task seems too complicated, leave it as is.
• Make an appointment with your orthodontist as soon as possible. Some orthodontists can provide temporary solutions if you describe the issue clearly. Follow their advice as they can help you contain the damage until your next appointment.

Immediate Dental Care in Vancouver, WA

If you have a dental emergency and need to make an appointment with an emergency dentist in Vancouver WA, contact Ranieu Family Dental. Weekend appointments are available and walk-ins are welcome. We offer emergency root canals, crowns, bridges, wisdom teeth removals, gum pain relief, and more. Contact our team to see how we can help.