By Arthur Kezian
You never know when a dental emergency is going to pop up. Whether you've got a cracked tooth, a miserable toothache, or a tooth that's been knocked out, it's important that you get an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, be sure to follow these 5 emergency dental tips:
1. Keep track of the pain
If your toothache flares up when you drink your morning coffee, or if the pain comes surging back when you eat dinner, your dentist will need to know about it. The more background information you can give him about your symptoms, the sooner he'll be able to diagnose the problem -- and the sooner you'll start to feel better.
2. Never assume the pain is random
Sometimes, that "random" toothache that suddenly popped up is actually the result of a tiny crack in your tooth. In the emergency dental world, cracks like these are more common than you might think. Many times, the only way to see what's really going on is to have your Los Angeles emergency dentist take x-rays.
And, never assume that the pain will leave as quickly as it arrived. The longer you wait to get treatment, the worse the pain is going to get.
3. Always stick knocked out teeth in milk
Just lost a tooth playing hockey? Quickly grab a cup of milk and stick your tooth in it!
Why?
Milk has special chemical properties that protect the cells at the end of your tooth. If these cells are exposed to the air for too long, they'll start to die. If too many of them die, your body may reject the tooth when your doctor tries to replant it!
4. Never clean off a tooth that's been knocked out of your mouth
When you lose a tooth, your first inclination may be to clean it off. However, by doing that, you're making things more difficult for your dentist. He'll need to see what kind of tissue was attached to the tooth when it came out, so that he can give you better treatment. By scrubbing the tooth clean, you're removing valuable evidence that your dentist needs!
5. Go easy on the pain meds
A painful toothache is one of the most common dental complaints. Even if your Los Angeles emergency dentist can see you right away, you may feel like you can't tolerate the pain. No matter how bad it is, though, be careful with your pain relief. If you apply something directly to the tooth itself (like a gel or aspirin), you can burn the gum tissue around it, and wind up in even more pain!
