Addressing Common Dental Emergencies

Understanding the steps that should be taken to address serious dental problems is information that everyone should know. Unfortunately, there are many different types of dental emergencies that can happen, and patients may not be aware of how to handle some of the emergencies that their teeth can experience.

Sudden Extreme Tooth Pain

It can be common for individuals to suddenly develop an intense and chronic pain in one of their teeth. Often, the tooth may show no signs of outward damage, which can lead to patients assuming it is only a minor problem. However, this can indicate that an infection is attacking the tooth's interior or root. Promptly treating this problem can be essential for saving the tooth as it will limit the ability of the infection to spread.

Chips and Cracks

A chipped or cracked tooth can be a problem that causes individuals to feel embarrassed to smile. Furthermore, this type of tooth damage can be extremely painful if it reaches the nerve of the tooth. Repairing this type of tooth damage is usually fairly straightforward. Minor chips and cracks can be addressed with dental bonding. However, larger damages may require a crown to completely correct. Waiting to have this addressed can limit your treatment options as it can allow substantial amounts of decay to form.

Severely Swollen Gums

Gum injuries and infections can pose a major threat to the teeth as the gums are responsible for securely holding them in place. When the gums become severely swollen, this could indicate that either an injury has occurred or severe gum disease is starting to develop. While many gum problems will develop slowly, they can cause intense pain and discomfort. Eventually, this pain will spread from the gums to the teeth. A thorough cleaning may be sufficient for addressing this problem, but those with advanced gum disease may require ongoing treatment to completely heal the gums.

Discharge from the Teeth, Gums or Tongue

Finding that you are having a discharge from your gums, teeth, or tongue can be extremely unpleasant. When the discharge is released, you will get an extremely foul taste in your mouth and develop bad breath. Infection is one of the leading causes of this problem as pus will start to gather as a result of the body's efforts at fighting the infection. If you have a bacterial infection of the mouth, you may need to be prescribed an antibiotic mouthwash that will help to neutralize the growing infection.

To learn more, contact an emergency dentist near you. 

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