Boys will be boys, right? You’ve always heard that but your son has really brought that saying to life. Sometimes you watch your little one and wonder, “Why?” as he decides to climb to the top of the monkey bars and riskily balance across them. The youngest members of your family tend to bring lots of excitement and fun to our routine lives, but understandably this makes us parents very nervous! What would you do if your child ends up cracking a tooth innocently playing on the playground? Your emergency dentist in Wharton wants to make sure you are prepared with pertinent information, allowing your child to continue to live carefreely.
Types of Dental Emergencies
Our loved ones lived active lives and no matter how much we try to prevent them, accidents do happen. Some are worse than others. It is important to know the proper actions to take to prevent major health care problems—and bills—down the road. Here are some common situations that constitute as a dental emergency:
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Lost or knocked out teeth
- Lost dental crowns
- Toothaches
- Swelling gums (sign of infection)
- Bitten tongue or lip
- Broken jaws
If you ever find yourself or a loved one experiencing a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to go to your nearest emergency room first if it is severe. For example, if you lost teeth due to a deep laceration, treat the cut first to avoid excessive bleeding. Give our office a call after all priority health concerns are cared for. We would be happy to help you explore different options on how we can help reconstruct your smile.
Dental Emergencies Between Visits with Dr. Tripulas
Knowing how to handle a dental emergency may be the difference between undergoing a minor oral procedure and missing major parts of your smile. Your dentist in Wharton gives you helpful information on how to treat common dental emergencies until the necessary medical attention is available.
For chipped or broken teeth, save any pieces. Rinse your mouth and the pieces using warm water. If there’s bleeding, apply gauze to the area until the bleeding stops along with a cold compress to keep any swelling down and relieve pain.
For a knocked-out tooth, be sure to retrieve it. Rinse it if it is dirty and if possible, try to put the tooth back in place facing the right way. Never force it into the socket. If it’s not possible to reinsert the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk (or a cup of water containing a pinch of salt). You have the highest chance of saving your tooth if you keep it moist and see your dentist within an hour of the incident.
For toothaches, rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between your teeth. Avoid using aspirin on aching teeth or gum issues.
Dr. Tripulas is dedicated to providing patients with quality, personalized care that gives them much-needed relief. Please contact our Wharton office today if you’re in need of emergency assistance! Patients from Wharton, Pierce, and other nearby areas are welcomed.