The holidays are a time of the year when many offices are closed and everyone is visiting friends and family. This could even mean that your dentist won't be around for an extended period of time, but there is still a chance that you could have a dental emergency. If you are dealing with any of these four dental emergencies, here's what you can do to help yourself handle it in the best way possible:
- Knocked Out Tooth: If you have a knocked out a tooth during the holidays, you want to call your dentist immediately. If they don't answer at the office, leave a message. They should return your call as soon as they return to the office and get you in right away to handle the emergency in a professional manner. If your dentist isn't in, try also contacting an emergency dentist, like those at Peak Family Dentistry & Orthodontics.
In the meantime, be sure to rinse your tooth with warm water while being careful that it does't go down the drain. Either put in the drain plug, or place a cloth over the drain. Don't scrub at the tooth though, since you don't want any attached tissue to be scrubbed off. Then you will want to place your tooth in a container with milk to keep it moist if you aren't able to hook it back into place in your mouth. Once your dentist returns, bring your tooth to the office and your dentist may be able to fuse it back into place. - Broken Tooth: If you broke one of your teeth during the holidays, you want to call your dentist and, again, leave a message if they do not pick up. In the meantime, clean your mouth with warm water and apply a cold press to the outside of your mouth to prevent swelling in the area.
- Broken Jaw: A broken jaw is more serious. If your dentist isn't in his or her office, then you will want to visit the emergency room. While waiting in the emergency room, be sure to apply a cold compress to keep swelling to a minimum.
- A Toothache: A toothache is less serious than the other emergencies you could potentially deal with, but you will still want to call your dentist and schedule an appointment to get the tooth looked at as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can take an ibuprofen for the pain, clean your mouth with warm water, and floss gently around the area to remove any food particles that may be stuck there.
Knowing how to handle these dental emergencies during the holidays can ensure that you are more prepared for the possibility that one of these things happen to you or a family member.
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