Experts recommend you visit a dentist once or twice a year, that you brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day, and that you floss. However, while this will help your teeth to stay healthy, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll never need emergency dental care.
The simple truth is that, despite all the right care, there are times when things go wrong and the unexpected happens. It’s best to register with a good dentist St Leonards now, ensuring you have an emergency contact when needed.
If you experience any of the following, then you may need to get emergency dental care.
Damaged Tooth
Teeth can be damaged through trauma such as a car accident, a sporting injury, or simply by biting on something too hard. If this happens you’ll want to get emergency dental care. In some cases, a tooth can be saved, while in others it may need to be replaced. In all cases, the dentist will protect the damaged tooth and make sure you avoid getting an infection.
Loose Teeth
Loose teeth are another example of when you may need emergency dental care. Once you have your adult teeth you should never find a loose tooth in your mouth. If you do it’s possible you have injured it without realizing it. You may also have an infection or even an abscess that you didn’t realize was there.
The sooner you see the dentist the better.
Severe Toothache
If you have ever had toothache then you’ll know how painful it can be. In fact, it can be hard to deal with the pain and continue everyday functions.
Most dentists will recommend you take painkillers to ease the pain. However, if these don’t reduce the pain or the pain continues past a day, you will most likely need emergency dental care.
It’s likely that you have an infection although there are other causes. Your emergency dentist will be able to identify the issue, provide pain relief, and help resolve it for you.
Bleeding Gums
If your gums bleed every time you brush your teeth, then you either have a poor brushing technique or you may have gum disease. This can be treated, but only if it is caught early. That’s why you should consider booking an emergency appointment.
Swollen Jaw or Cheeks
Swollen jaws are often accompanied by a bad taste in your mouth and are a sign of serious infection. You’re likely to have an abscess that will need to be drained, the area cleaned, and you’ll need antibiotics.
There are many different types of infection in your mouth that can cause a swollen jaw, so it’s important that you let your dentist confirm the issue and help you resolve it.
Numbness
When you’ve been putting up with a severe toothache and the pain suddenly disappears you’ll feel relief. In reality, the tooth has gone numb because the infection has reached your root. It will damage your root and you’ll need a root canal. But, if left untreated it can damage your jaw and your tooth will fall out.
It’s time to make that emergency dental appointment. Your teeth have to last you a lifetime, it’s better to get issues taken care of early.