By Arthur Kezian
You may think that because you don't play contact sports or because you're careful about what you bite into, that you're never going to suffer a dental emergency. Unfortunately, though, no one is immune from needing the services of a good Los Angeles emergency dentist.
If you want to get the very best treatment, just follow these 5 tips:
1. Cleaning a knocked-out tooth is a no-no
Your Los Angeles emergency dentist will need to see exactly what was attached to your tooth when it came out, so resist the urge to clean it off. That way, your dentist will be able to assess the situation better, which means you'll feel better sooner!
2. Milk can save a tooth that's been knocked out
Getting a tooth knocked out is one of the biggest emergencies at an emergency dental office. That's because you only have so long until the cells at the end of the tooth die. If enough cells die, your body can reject the tooth when your Los Angeles emergency dentist goes to replant it.
Luckily, milk can buy you some time!
Milk has special chemical properties that protect those fragile cells and even encourage them to keep growing. By sticking your tooth in a cup of milk as soon as it gets knocked out, you can make things a whole lot easier for your dentist -- and yourself!
3. Keep track of that nagging toothache
In many cases, the pain of a toothache can flare up at specific times. In order to help your dentist diagnose the problem quickly, have a journal that keeps track of everything you're doing when the pain gets worse.
4. Be careful with pain relief
In the emergency dental world, there isn't much that's more common than a bad toothache. However, if you use the wrong kind of pain relief products, you might actually make the pain worse. By applying gels and aspirin right to the tooth, you can burn your gums.
Instead, keep the pain meds to a minimum until your Los Angeles emergency dentist can assess the situation.
5. Don't discount the idea of a cracked tooth
Toothaches aren't random; they don't show up for no reason. It's very common for a Los Angeles emergency dentist to find a tiny crack that's only visible on x-rays -- but causes a ton of pain. That's why, if you're in pain, call your dentist. If you wait around, the pain is only going to get worse!
Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777
-N.S.
