Dental emergencies

some common dental emergencies:

Acute toothache: A toothache is an aching pain in or around a tooth. In most cases toothaches are caused by problems in the tooth or jaw, do not ignore the pain. Seek an appointment with your dentist. The steps outlined below can provide temporary relief: Rinse your mouth with warm salt water and gently use dental floss to remove any food or debris that may be lodged. Do not use a sharp or pointed instrument to remove any debris as this may damage teeth or cause injury. A painkiller may be taken for relief till you consult the dentist. Try massage your aching tooth by hand, this can ease the pain by 50 percent. Place a cold compress on the outside of your cheek to minimise the swelling. A few doctors also recommend the use of cloves and clove oil to soothe the pain. Lost filling: Immediately report to your dentist. As a temporary measure, fill a sugarless gum in the cavity or over the counter dental cements. Dislodged Crown:  Crowns sometimes fall out. This can be caused by a lack of cement or an improper fit. If this happens, place the crown in a secure, zip- top plastic bag. Then bring it to your dentist to have it cemented back in place. If you are in no discomfort and your appearance is not affected, don't try to put the crown back in place yourself. If you do need to put it back in your mouth, clean it well on the inside. Use a toothpick to loosen and remove any cement or debris that is stuck to the crown. A wet cotton swab can finish the cleaning. You can replace the crown temporarily using denture adhesive or temporary cement. This is sold in many pharmacies. Contact your dental office immediately and try to schedule a visit for the next day.  Lost crown: If the crown falls off, make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible and bring the crown with you. If you can't get to the dentist right away and the tooth is causing pain, use a cotton swab to apply a little clove oil to the sensitive area. If possible, slip the crown back over the tooth. Before doing so, coat the inner surface with toothpaste or denture adhesive, to help hold the crown in place. Do not use super glue. Dental Abscess: Place a dry black tea-bag or a piece of potato against the sore tooth in for a couple of hours or overnight. This reduces the infection and drains the pus. The result is diminished pain and swelling. Swish your mouth with Hydrogen Peroxide 1.5% as a mouthwash in order to disinfect the inflamed area. In case of abscess discharge brush your teeth (with a baking soda/peroxide toothpaste) and repeat the disinfectant per- oxide gargle. You can assist the drainage by lightly pushing against your cheek near the abscess. BUT, only lightly! If you press strongly you may push pus into the bloodstream or nearby tissues which can cause a more serious infection. Consult a dentist for starting appropriate antibiotics. An oral infection, like tooth abscess is a serious condition and can cause problems in other areas of the body, like inflammation of the heart or facial bones. Seeking medical help is essential. Gum Abscess and Periodontal Abscess:  A gum abscess is the result of irritation caused by toothpicks or other objects or aggressive brushing. Due to a break in the gum surface, bacteria invades the area, causing a local infection. Initially, the area appears red,later the area becomes pointed and filled with pus . You can use salt water and clove oil to temporarily reduce the pain before you seek dental help. Sometimes using mouthwashes and peroxide flushes also bring temporary relief. Antibiotic therapy also causes relief but you should visit the dentist within 24-48 hrs. Broken Dentures or Lost Dentures: Accidents do happen and because dentures are a vital component to daily life, people should have a denture repairs service in mind before they are faced with a denture emergency. Safeguard the pieces of your broken denture and report to your dentist. He is the only person who can fix it. Do not try to use any adhesive or try to repair it yourself.