Coping With a Dental Emergency in Encinitas

This article describes what dental emergencies are and the necessary steps to be taken to help ourselves and others cope with them.

Dental Emergency in Encinitas: An Overview

We’ve all heard of medical emergencies (usually involving blood, ambulances and fainting relatives), but a dental emergency in Encinitas? What exactly is that and how would you cope with it? It could be a rogue play swing received full in the face by Uncle Garth, or a stray peach pit in Granny Viv’s cobbler; it could be cousin Timmy falling of his bicycle or Dad trying to show off in the pool again, only to get a mouth full of cement. Whatever the dental emergency in Encinitas, there are basic protocol that should be followed by you – the informed and responsible friend, relative, colleague or even by-stander, in order to prevent permanent damage to the teeth and gums and the need for far more expensive and extensive treatment in the future.

Dental Emergency in Encinitas: Soft Tissue Trauma

In the case of a dental emergency in Encinitas involving the soft tissue of the mouth (the tongue, lips, cheeks, gums or palate) your primary concern is to reduce bacteria in the mouth with a warm salt water solution and then to control and stop the bleeding. This can easily be done with some wet cotton wool or a tea bag pressed firmly against the site where the tissue has been torn or damaged. If the injury isn’t serious and the bleeding stops after a few minutes, then you need not race off to the nearest hospital or dental office. If, however, it doesn’t stop then you may consider this a dental emergency in Encinitas and immediately consult your dentist: it may require professional attention and sutures.

Dental Emergency in Encinitas: Hard Tissue Trauma

Trauma received to the face and mouth can result in teeth becoming chipped, cracked or even dislodged altogether! For this dental emergency in Encinitas, you should:

•    Try to retrieve the chipped tooth fragment or missing tooth/teeth and place it in a cup of salt water or milk.
•    Rinse the mouth out with salt water to prevent any dirt or bacteria from settling into the exposed socket or injury.
•    Try and stop the bleeding by applying pressure to the area and then,
•    Transport the person (or yourself) to your dentist where they will immediately be able to assess the damage and make the appropriate reparations.

Dental Emergency in Encinitas: Managing Pain

Trauma to the teeth and gums defines a dental emergency in Encinitas; and oral trauma is generally synonymous with pain. If you’ve bitten your tongue or had a similar accident, then the pain can generally be managed with an analgesic such as a paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen tablet. A bag filled with ice can also be applied to the cheek to ease the pain and swelling. Clove oil, which contains the chemical eugenol, is also a great pain reliever and is completely natural to boot if you are a stickler for homeopathic options. For the dental emergency in Encinitas involving unbearable pain, it is absolutely imperative that you seek professional medical care immediately.