Warmer months are upon us and summertime activities are here. Baseball games, home projects, long days outside, vacations and reunions are just some of the summertime activities we look forward to. Cardinal Dental Group wants you and your family to be prepared in case of a dental emergency, whether you’re at home or away. Of course, we first recommend you take steps to prevent dental trauma, but we know that emergencies can happen unexpectedly at any time which is why we have outlined steps you should take immediately following a dental emergency.
What Are Dental Emergencies?
Even if you are in doubt about the seriousness of a dental emergency, you should always contact Cardinal Dental Group after you have injured your teeth or gums. As with many other types of medical emergencies, health issues with one’s mouth can often be remedied as long as patients do not hold off on their treatment. Some of the most common dental emergencies include:
- Having one’s tooth knocked out during an athletic event
- Chipping a tooth while biting down on something
- Cracking a tooth due to trauma to the face.
If action is taken as quickly as possible, these injuries can be treated.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
The single best tip for preventing dental emergencies is to wear a protective mouth guard. This is an especially important habit for children that have begun to play sports, including non-contact sports. Cardinal Dental Group makes custom mouth guards for athletes participating in any sport. We will create your custom mouth guard suitable to the sport you play. It is also important to never rip or tear anything with your teeth and avoid biting down on particularly hard foods such as ice and candy. Examples of things to avoid:
- Using your teeth to open a soda can
- Using teeth to open anything or tear anything
- Playing sports without a mouth guard
- Chomping on hard objects (such as ice, popsicles, hard candies)
Protect Your Oral Health after Damaging or Losing a Tooth
Human teeth are incredibly resilient to damage while they are in the mouth, but they actually become quite fragile after they have been knocked out or the protective layer of enamel has been damaged. If a permanent or adult tooth has been completely knocked out, then preserving the tooth and seeking out emergency services should be your priority. The tooth can be preserved by placing it into a glass of milk, covering it in an ADA approved tooth preservation product, or even keeping it in one’s mouth between the cheek and gums. Cardinal Dental Group offers Save-A-Tooth, a preservation product in case your tooth has been completely knocked out. It’s a small container that can be easily carried in a purse or bag.
If a tooth has been cracked or chipped and there is no other serious damage, then you should start by rinsing your mouth out with clean water and applying a cold compress. Minor chips are not generally considered an emergency, but you should still schedule an appointment with the dentist as quickly as possible. The same steps can be taken for teeth that have been knocked loose but are still in the mouth.
If you have a dental emergency please call our office immediately. 936.258.5597. Follow the steps above for prevention and action in case of emergency. If you would like to pick up a Save-A-Tooth kit please call us or come by the office.
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