How to Assess a Dental Emergency at Your Home?

Author : Andrew Garfield | Published On : 26 Apr 2024

When a dental emergency strikes, knowing how to manage it at home can make a crucial difference in alleviating pain and preventing further complications. This blog provides essential guidance on how to address common dental emergencies with simple yet effective home remedies. Understanding these steps can offer immediate relief while you arrange for professional dental care, ensuring that you are prepared to handle unexpected dental issues with confidence and ease.

Read on this blog to learn about the steps you can take at the time of any dental conditions at your home. Then, contact the dentist as per your convenience if there is an unsure about the steps.

What do you mean by dental emergency?

Before we indulge directly into the consequences of the dental emergency it is imperative to know actually what dental emergency is! There are certain dental concerns which need immediate attention whereas some don’t clearly indicating that those can be helped out with home remedies.

Then, as per your convenience you will visit the dentist to get checked up. This blog will let you know the things in much detail in this blog.

Symptoms need immediate attention

Extension of facial swelling to neck and eye
An extraction followed by bleeding for non-stop 20 minutes even after pressing with clean hankie or gauze (little oozing is obvious similar to that of grazed knee)
Trauma leads to excessive bleeding
Potential toothache resisting you from eating or sleeping and accompanies with significant fever or swelling unmanageable by painkillers

You should seek immediate attention of the dentist for the below-mentioned symptoms:

Trauma leading to vomiting, double vision and loss of consciousness
Swelling of the face affecting breathing or vision and resists the mouth opening widely

Symptoms which can wait

Lost or loose crowns, veneers and bridges
Occasional bleeding gums
Loose, rubbing and broken dentures
Lost, loose and broken fillings
Painless chipped teeth
Non-trauma causing loose orthodontic wires

Management of toothache

A significant hole in tooth or with crack leads to discomfort! Over time, it becomes highly sharp or sensitive due to which a temporary filling can be your solution for a short span of time. However, it can’t be used as long-term solution as it can be used only to manage toothache at home for a short period of time.

Even before trying this out you are highly advised to consult with the dentist to get the most appropriate solution for your oral condition. Reduction in intake of sugar or glucose and proper cleaning of your teeth with fluoride toothpaste can be a plus for resisting the worsening of the potential decay which is already present in your mouth.

Also you can consult with your dentist to obtain the best option of toothpaste for you, addressing the oral condition.

Management of painful Wisdom teeth

Pain in wisdom teeth mainly causes for the gum inflammation over erupted teeth. The condition can get worsened from the trauma due to improper biting. However, it is easy to obtain wisdom tooth pain relief at home after dealing with it for a couple of weeks.

In case there is any difficulty with swelling or swallowing in the cheek and face then only dentist consultation is necessary. Antibiotics are recommended for treating any sort of infection- major or minor!

Ensure proper cleaning: Although brushing becomes painful yet the areas should be kept clean for influencing fast healing.

Avoid the use of Corsodyl mouthwash: It is a great idea to stop the use of Corsodyl mouthwash for a few weeks to prevent the teeth from getting stained.
Soft diet: Consumption of soft foods which are non hardy, crispy and crunchy will lessen the probability of trauma results from improper biting.
Painkillers: Either paracetamol or Ibuprofen can be taken for the reduction of inflammation. Just follow the stated instructions on packet to enjoy its benefits.

Management of ulcers

Ulcers are extremely painful yet it gets healed naturally in 7-10 days. If the oral lesions and non-healing ulcers are there in your mouth for about 3 weeks then dentist assessment is necessary.

Proper cleaning- the mouth should be kept clean for fast healing and preventing the mouth from the formation of ulcers. For this you can make use of baby/soft toothbrush as well.
Benzydamine (Difflam) spray or mouthwash- It can be your right companion for treating the sore mouth.
Denture adhesives- If the key cause of your ulcers is rubbing dentures then adhesives such as Fixodent are helpful for securing loose denture. Use an emery board for the removal of the sharp edges. Dentures should be removed if they are likely to cause trauma.
Neglect the use of Corsodyl mouthwash- Don’t use any Corsodyl mouthwash as it may lead to teeth staining.

Pain management and healing post extraction

In case unbearable pain is there post extraction, regular painkillers should be taken for a week. Normally, the pain will be at its worst level on third or fourth day. Antibiotics can’t be offered to the patient post teeth extraction until a trace of infection can be observed in the spot of incision.

After tooth extraction it is common to have some pink oozing or spit. You can blot the blood by biting hard on the clear gauze for about 20 minutes. If the bleeding doesn’t stop totally you should visit the dentist for further advice and treatment. Being a smoking person immediate smoking and rinsing after extraction can be risky for dry socket.

Even regular painkillers become ineffective in such conditions. You should seek the dentist immediately as antibiotic will be non-effective as well. In such conditions exposed bone has to be covered with a dressing.

Management of bleeding gums

Bleeding gum isn’t regarded as dental emergency as it is not associated to any gum disease. To get rid of the issue you have to improve your brushing style. Brushing your teeth by fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes twice a day is highly recommended especially for the spots from where you encounter bleeding.

Make sure flossing is done once every day by using interdental brushes for keeping the area in-between your teeth clean and germ-free.

Management of lost crown

In case your crown gets lost, you can receive a new pair from the dentist. Even temporary repair kits are there which are quite difficult to use. Sometimes, your dentist will suggest leaving off the crown till the dental care reopens.

Although these can’t cover every dental issue but following them strictly ensures proper oral health by diminishing potential dental problems. In case, these aren’t helpful for you any more visit www.emergencydentistinlondon.co.uk to call a dentist or book an emergency appointment. Our dentist will try their best level for giving you relief from any dental problem whether it is an emergency or long-term.