Emergency Dentists And Your Dental Health

The wellness of your dental health is determined by your oral habits, oral hygiene routine, the foods you take, and some other factors. Your oral health is an extension of your overall wellbeing. Therefore, damage to your oral health can also result in damage to your medical health. Bad oral habits, bad oral hygiene routine, foods that encourage the development of dental plaques, etc., are factors that can make your dental and general health vulnerable to damaging diseases and defects.

For instance, irregular and improper brushing and flossing of the teeth can give dental plaques an excellent opportunity to thrive in your mouth. Dental plaques are from bacteria, saliva, and sugary/starchy food particles in the mouth. They form a slimy film of bacteria that sticks to the surface of the teeth. They produce acids aided by sugary/starchy food particles that wear down the teeth’ enamel. This leads to the wear and tear of the tooth enamel, which can open doors for infections and diseases like tooth decay, endodontic disease, etc.

Most of these diseases can be prevented by cultivating good oral hygiene habits, regular dental checkups, dental cleanings, and examinations. During dental examinations and dental cleanings in Phoenix, the dentist in Phoenix, AZ, examines your mouth thoroughly to know the condition. Dental cleanings help to rid your mouth of plaques and other agents of dental diseases. Regular dental examinations can also help detect diseases and infections before they become full-blown and go out of control.

These preventive measures against oral diseases and infections, nonetheless, dental conditions that can threaten your dental health and even your life can suddenly emerge. These can happen due to accidents, trauma, etc., and urgent dental care is required to save the teeth, protect dental health, and even save an individual’s life. If you are in a dental emergency like this, do not panic because emergency dentists are here to save the day.

Emergency dentists are dentists trained to handle dental emergencies. A dental emergency is when urgent dental care and treatment are needed to treat severe dental conditions. A dental emergency in Phoenix can consist of dental conditions that cause severe pain, bleeding, lacerations, fractures, etc. Emergency dentistry helps to provide immediate dental care to patients in need of urgent attention.

What Conditions Are Considered As Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies are conditions that should be attended to within twenty-four hours. Therefore, not all dental conditions are dental emergencies. Conditions that can be considered as emergencies include:

• Abscessed teeth: This can occur as a result of tooth decay or endodontic disease. It is a situation where an infection in the tooth causes a pocket of pus to form around the tooth, oozing pus. This can cause severe pain, halitosis (bad breath), fever, cavities, etc.
• Severe injury to the jaw. When an injury that is severe enough to dislocate the jaw occurs, it is considered to be a dental emergency.
• Nonstop bleeding from any part of the mouth.
• Toothache accompanied by severe pain and headaches.
• Knocked-out tooth as a result of injury or accident during sports or work.
• Swollen, bleeding, or aching gums.
• Soft tissue injury (severe cuts on the tongue, lips, etc.)

What To Do During A Dental Emergency

A dental emergency is similar to a medical emergency in which there is the application of first aid before medical attention. Therefore, there are steps to be taken that can help save your tooth and even your life during a dental emergency. These include:

• Abscessed Tooth: Rinse your mouth thoroughly with saltwater as many times as you can to draw out pus and ease the pain.
• Knocked out tooth: Rinse the tooth and avoid touching the root while rinsing. Try inserting the knocked-out tooth into the socket if possible. If not, place the tooth in a glass of milk pending getting professional dental help.
• Soft tissue injuries: Clean the affected area gently with water. In case of bleeding, apply a cold compress if needed. Get stitched up as soon as possible.
• Severe toothache: Rinse your mouth gently with warm water. Try to clean the teeth gently and remove food particles between them.

These basic measures can help save your teeth before the arrival of an emergency dentist; therefore, try to seek dental help as soon as possible.