By Leo Cora
There are few things more painful – and stressful – than a late-night dental emergency. There you are, sitting peacefully on the couch and enjoying a lolly, when suddenly, boom, said lolly cracks your tooth.
This situation doesn’t only cause tremendous pain, but it can also be a nightmare to try and rectify in the small hours of the night. But it really doesn’t have to be, as there are numerous things you can do in a dental crisis to ensure your teeth are well taken care of regardless of the nasty occurrence.
Things like staying calm, avoiding emergencies and calling the best emergency dentist Melbourne has available are some of the ways you can alleviate the pain and stress associated with a dental crisis.
Let’s take a further look at some of those helpful tips below:
- It’s best to avoid this situation altogether
Dental crises are a nasty business, so it’s best to try and avoid them altogether! Do the following to steer clear of these nasty situations:
- Avoid chewing very hard foods like ice or nuts with your front teeth;
- Floss or brush properly to avoid cavities, gum disease and infections;
- Wear a mouthguard to avoid sports injuries and/or a protective nightguard to fight bruxism;
- Avoid using your teeth as tools to open boxes, packages etc.
- Try to avoid sticky lollies if your teeth are susceptible to pulling.
- Don’t stress – a dental crisis is rarely life-threatening
You don’t have to worry too much about the issue – dental emergencies are rarely life-threatening. Instead, it’s best to slow down, take a breath, and be sure to follow the right steps to ensure the situation is dealt with properly.
- Call your emergency dentist
People shouldn’t only visit the ER if they think they have experienced a severe injury like head trauma or a broken jaw. In most dental crises, you should be able to visit your emergency dentist as they are highly trained and experienced in such after-hours matters.
But, if you believe you have suffered some form of severe injury, do not hesitate to visit the ER at your local hospital!
- Act fast – you need to save the tooth!
If your tooth is knocked out you should work to have it replaced within one to two hours. All other dental problems can be resolved more efficiently the faster you act on them. To ensure the best results for the health of your teeth and gums, you should always work towards seeing the best after-hours, emergency dentist Melbourne has available.
- Try to mitigate the pain before seeing the dentist
You can treat the bleeding with cotton balls and clean gauze, as well as use over-the-counter medicine like acetaminophen and ibuprofen to treat swelling and additional pain. You should avoid blood-thinning medications, but ice can be applied externally to reduce pain and swelling (never apply it to the injured area).
So, here are your tips for resolving a pressing dental issue. Don’t stress as you should be fine in absolutely no time. However, it’s vitally important that you work to resolve the issue as soon as possible, as it can develop into something worse if you don’t act quickly.
So, call your after-hours professional, arrange an appointment, stay calm and do what you can to nullify the pain before your appointment – your dental professional should be able to provide a healthy resolution on the same night as the incident!
