Five Reasons Why You Need to Visit an Emergency Dentist

When you have a toothache or bleeding gums, it can be hard to tell if it is time to visit an emergency dentist near you or wait for an appointment. Knowing the difference between urgent and non-urgent dental emergencies is crucial to your oral health. It determines the form of treatment and the type of first aid to perform. In this post, we will highlight five signs that you need to visit an emergency dentist in Phoenix immediately.

What is a Dental Emergency?

A dental or mouth emergency is any injury that affects the teeth, gums, and soft tissues. But, having broken dental restorations, such as crowns or bridges needs urgent treatment.

Some of the accidents can occur and cause minor problems, and therefore can be addressed at home as you wait for an appointment. However, some accidents and emergencies require immediate treatment to preserve your dental health and integrity.

What are the Signs You Need Immediate Dental Treatment?

1. Bleeding gums

At times when you brush with a hard-bristled toothbrush, you may accidentally bruise the gums and cause slight bleeding. This bleeding will last for a couple of seconds and clear out. However, when you have severe and persistent bleeding, it could be a sign of a serious dental problem.

Two factors can cause the gums to bleed; gum disease and soft tissue injuries. Soft tissues are found in the cheeks, tongue, lips, and gums. When bruised, these tissues can bleed. You can use a gauze pad or tea bag to control the bleeding.

Gum inflammation, caused by a bacterial infection, will cause the gums to bleed and recede. It is crucial to visit dental offices near you for assessment. Because, if left untreated, the infection will spread and cause gum pockets that harbor bacteria. It will also affect the supporting bone and cause the teeth to decay and weaken.

2. Knocked out teeth

Teeth can get knocked out after an accident or a fall. Once the teeth get dislodged from the socket, it can cause gums to bleed. Knocked-out teeth can be saved if treatment is started early. Visit an emergency dentist within the first hour after the accident occurs. It is easy for the dentist to save teeth and prevent further damage.

As you wait for the treatment, make sure you protect your teeth. If the teeth are partially knocked out, try pushing the teeth back to the socket using the crown. Do not touch the root to avoid damaging the fragments. If they are completely dislodged, take the teeth and store them in a milk solution to preserve them. Do not wrap the teeth with a tissue or paper.

Rinse your mouth with lukewarm water to get rid of debris or dirt in the mouth.

3. Tooth pain

A toothache is a common dental complaint, but it rarely develops without a cause. Sometimes, the pain may be caused by food stuck between the gums. You remove the food particle by flossing or rinsing the mouth. But, if you have severe and persistent pain, it could be due to decay or tooth fracture.

Treatment like root canal or fillings can help to remove decay and stop it from spreading. The dentist may also result in extraction if you have severe decay or the fracture extends to the root of the teeth.

4. Abscessed tooth

A dental abscess is an accumulation of pus in the gums, caused by a bacterial infection that triggers inflammation. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the surrounding tissues or even the bloodstream.

You can ease the pain by rinsing the mouth with warm saltwater.

5. Swollen jaw or mouth

Swollen lymph nodes or bacterial infections can cause the mouth or jaw to swell. The bacterial infection can clog the salivary glands, blocking the production of saliva. This will lead to swelling. Mouth cancer can also cause the jaw to swell. Only with a dental assessment can the dentist determine the cause of the swollen jaws.

Take Action

If you have unexplained tooth pain or gum bleeding, visit Brookstone Dental Care for immediate treatment.