3 Tips for Handling Dental Emergencies

There are many times that a dental emergency can occur, and it is important to know what you can do in these types of situations. After all, you don't want to make a bad situation worse during the time that it takes for you to receive professional treatment from your dentist. Here are three tips for handling certain dental emergencies:

1.  Toothaches: If you have a toothache, you want to be sure that you do not place pain killers directly on the gums since it can burn them. Instead, simply rinse your mouth with warm water and try to floss around the tooth that is hurting to remove food and other particles surrounding it. At this point, if your tooth still hurts, then you want to visit your dentist. A toothache can be a sign that there are worse problems than something being stuck in your teeth or a temporary pain that you can deal with on your own.
2. Broken or Knocked Out Tooth: If your tooth has simply chipped, then be sure to call your dentist right away to let them know you need to come in to get treatment. While waiting, rinse your mouth out with warm water and use a cold compress to press against the area to prevent swelling. If your tooth has been completely knocked out, on the other hand, then be sure to try and salvage the tooth by rinsing it gently and then placing it in a container with some milk to bring to your dentist. Your dentist may be able to place it back into your mouth. 
3. Something Stuck in Your Teeth: Most of the time when something is stuck in your teeth, you are going to be able to remove it on your own with dental floss. However, if it is difficult to remove, then call your dentist. You never want to use excessive pressure to remove something on your own since it can cut your gums and possibly lead to a damaged tooth. Also, never use anything other than floss to remove something from between your teeth since doing so can often lead to chipped teeth. 

By knowing how to handle certain dental emergencies, you can be sure that you help your damaged teeth to recover more quickly rather than cause more damage. This is also going to potentially prevent a trip to your dentist and further dental care that can end up costing you. Consider searching www.hcdentistry.com for more information about dental emergencies and their treatment.