6 ways to deal with a dental emergency
Be ready if a dental emergency calls
Suffering from sudden tooth discomfort? Stop and learn the following 6 ways to deal with a dental emergency before you do anything.
Be ready if a dental Emergency Calls
We've all been there – that unexpected, heart-pounding moment when a dental emergency strikes out of nowhere. Whether it's a sudden toothache, a chipped tooth while messing about or something else, it's essential to know how to handle the situation with a cool head.
In this blog, we'll explore six effective ways to deal with a dental emergency. So, buckle up and let's dive right into these tooth-saving tips!
1. Swift Action is Key:
When it comes to dental emergencies, time is of the essence. The moment you feel that twinge of pain or notice something's not quite right with your teeth, take immediate action. Contact your dentist or an emergency dental clinic as soon as possible. Remember, the sooner you address the issue, the better your chances of minimising pain and preventing further damage. The good news is that Emergency Dentist Sydney operates after hours around the clock so help is at hand whatever the time.
If money is a hurdle standing in your way of getting oral care when you need it, then our range of Payment Plans could help.
2. Keep Calm and Rinse:
Dental emergencies can be nerve-wracking. But remember, maintaining your cool is half the battle won. If you've knocked out a tooth, gently rinse it with water without scrubbing or using soap. If possible, try to place the tooth back in its socket, ensuring not to swallow it. If that's not feasible, keep the tooth in a glass of milk until you can reach a dental professional. Keeping the tooth's root moist is crucial for potential re-implantation. You can find more information on this, amongst other issues here.
3. Temporary Relief with Cold Compresses:
A throbbing toothache can quickly turn your day sour. To ease the pain temporarily, apply a cold compress to the affected area. This can help reduce inflammation and numb the pain to some extent. However, remember that this is a temporary measure, and seeking professional help is essential to address the underlying issue causing the discomfort.
4. Don't Underestimate Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers:
While it's crucial to get professional help for any dental emergency, over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can provide temporary pain relief until you can see a dentist.
5. Dental Emergency Kit:
If you’ve noticed discomfort or unstable teeth then creating a dental emergency kit is a proactive move. Keeping essentials like a handkerchief, a small container with a lid, and a form of pain relief on you between the time of noticing discomfort and visiting the dentist is a good idea.
6. Prevention is Better Than Cure:
While it might not be an immediate solution during a dental emergency, practising good oral hygiene can significantly reduce the chances of experiencing one. Brush your teeth twice daily, floss regularly, and don't skip those routine dental check-ups. Preventive care can often nip dental problems in the bud, saving you from the intensity of a full-blown emergency.
Facing a dental emergency
Dental emergencies might catch us off guard, but armed with these six strategies, you'll be far better equipped. Your smile is your best accessory, and with these six ways to deal with a dental emergency, you'll keep it shining brightly even in the face of the unexpected.
If you need emergency dental care then contact us here, and if you’d like to learn more about emergency dental care then you can find out more here.
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The Importance of Good Quality Emergency Dentistry
Avoid Long Term Dental Problems
Avoid Long Term Dental Problems
You may not always get the opportunity to choose your emergency dentist. If you injure your mouth after hours, you’ll be in pain, confused and worried, as well as struggling to find an after hours dentist. But that doesn’t mean that you should settle for just any dentist who answers the phone. In fact, choosing the right Emergency Dentist in Sydney can be pivotal in getting the effective and expert help that you need.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Emergency Dentist
You need to choose an after hours dentist with the same care that you use when you choose your regular dentist. Emergency dentists must have a specific set of skills that are related to what patients need when they experience an injury or other dental problem. As Dr. Oberoi from Emergency Dental Sydney explains, “Emergency dentists have to be trained well in managing people with dental pain or dental trauma. They’re like Emergency Doctors in a lot of ways. They have more experience in diagnosing and giving appropriate treatment.” This extra training is essential to ensure you get the right treatment and the best outcome possible no matter what type of treatment you need.
If you don’t choose the right dentist, you may find yourself with someone who doesn’t have the depth of experience they need to cope with your dental emergency. This can result in substandard work, which causes more problems in the long run. If your dental work isn’t completed properly it can result in further trauma, infection or injury. And this will probably mean that you’ll have to have further work done to correct the problem or suffer long term pain or discomfort.
If you want to avoid these problems, then you need to put some thought into choosing an after hours dentist.
What to Look For in an Emergency Dentist
Obviously an after hours dentist should be appropriately qualified and experienced, but this isn’t really a big issue these days because of the regulations surrounding this profession. But that doesn’t mean that you should just go to anyone. As Dr. Oberoi says, “It’s important to choose an emergency dentist based on how good the dentist is. Because if the work isn’t done to the highest level then it can lead to further problems.”
This means that you shouldn’t default to just any dental provider even if you’re looking for a dentist after hours. It’s always better to visit a dentist who has a proven record in emergency treatments and can ensure the best outcome possible for your dental problem.
Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:
If you have a dental emergency, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.
Oral Health Tip #02 – Flossing
Flossing your teeth effectively is important to making your daily oral health routine count. Take a look at our How To refresher on good flossing habits...
Floss once a day
Flossing your teeth effectively is important to making your daily oral health routine count. Take a look at our How To refresher on good flossing habits
When should I floss my teeth?
Simple rule, before you go to sleep.
After you've had dinner, or any late night snacks, make it an automatic ritual to brush and floss. #HotTip If you're starting out as a newbie and you haven't been a regular flosser in the past, try flossing your top teeth one night then your bottom teeth the next. You can alternate between the top and the bottom each night until you get used to it and get a bit faster. This is especially time consuming for people with braces too!
How do I floss correctly?
Start with 'the grab'. Technique: Wrap a long strand around your middle fingers (they're the rude ones), leaving your forefingers free.
Brace position. Technique: Hold the floss between your thumbs and forefingers in both hands.
Start on the Top. Floss the top teeth between each tooth and partly up between the gums and teeth, don't force it too much. Technique: Use your fingers to pull the floss back and forth, working your way from between the teeth to between the teeth and gums in a 'Y' shape.
Repeat step 3.
Do I brush first or floss?
We say, floss first. Everyone has a different opinion on this, we take a practical approach.
When you floss you are cleaning in between your teeth and, in most cases, you are moving particles of food from between your teeth to the inside of your mouth or the surfaces of your teeth. We therefore would recommend brushing after doing this. We like to compare it to cleaning under your nails vs washing your hands. Most people would want to wash their hands after removing dirt or other nasty things from under their finger nails. That's our theory.
But there is no concrete evidence to support either order of brushing vs flossing. As long as you are disrupting the happy lives of bacteria who build little communities and multiply on and in between your teeth, you are doing the right thing.
If you do prefer to brush before flossing, we recommend thoroughly rinsing after flossing.
The #EmergencyDentist Says:
Best practice is a nightly floss after dinner – It doesn't really matter if your brush before or after you floss
Emergency Dental Care Tip #006
Injury to the soft-tissue, which includes your tongue, cheek, gum and lips will result in bleeding. There are some basic things you can do to help control the bleeding...
How To Treat Severed Gums, Lips or Mouth
Injury to the soft-tissue, which includes your tongue, cheek, gum and lips will result in bleeding. There are some basic things you can do to help control the bleeding. Follow this treatment guide:
1. Rinse your mouth. Where possible, use warm water with salt and gently rinse. This process will help cleanse the injured not stop the bleeding.
2. Apply pressure by holding a moistened cloth to the area for 15 minutes. Ideally use a gauze or even a tea bag for this. This will help stop bleeding.
3. Next hold a cold compress to the outside of your face on the opposing side to the injury for 5 to 10 minutes. This will help control bleeding and relieve pain.
4. If the bleeding doesn't stop please call The #EmergencyDentist Sydney on 02 8283 6493. Repeat steps 2. and 3. until you are treated.
The #EmergencyDentist Says:
Handle with care and call us!
Emergency Dental Care Tips: Dislodged Teeth, Tooth
Emergency Dental Care Tips for Dislodged Teeth, Tooth Knocked Out...
The Importance of Cosmetic Dentistry
Wether the tooth or teeth have been knocked out, have become displaced (moved forward or backward or have been pushed in) or have been chipped, there is a risk of permanent damage. Nerves may be exposed and aesthetics may be compromised. As such we may need to see you to reduce sensitivity, minimise or stop bacteria infecting your nerves and restore aesthetics.
What are my treatment options for broken, cracked or dislodged teeth?
The general treatment options available for broken, damaged or cracked teeth are:
Porcelain Crowns or Veneers
Temporary braces or brackets
Teeth Whitening
Removal of the teeth or Extractions
Gum Treatment or Periodontal Treatment
We will discuss your dental history and then have a consultation with you to discuss possible treatment options. X-rays or other tests to your mouth, gums or jaw may need to be performed. Don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime to discuss your emergency.
Emergency Dental Care Tips for Dislodged Teeth, Tooth Knocked Out
1. Gently sit the tooth back in socket it has come out from, do not push it in with force, to avoid touching the root. 2. Alternatively place it between the cheek and teeth, away from the affected area, to keep it warm and moist. 3. You can also place it in a container of milk until you see us. (Note: Avoid touching the socket with your tongue)
Dental Care 101: Playing Sports
Sports and active lifestyles are an important part of many people's lives and proper prevention and protection practices should be number 1...
Mouthguards Are Your Best Friend
One of the most common causes of dental injuries comes from contact sports. Sports and active lifestyles are an important part of many people's lives and proper prevention and protection practices should be number one.
The injuries our beloved contact sports cause are often very painful and can require expensive treatment. Our Dentists can fit you or your family members with custom moulded mouth guards, you can contact us to find out more. These are just some of the benefits of wearing a custom fit mouthguard:
A custom fit will enable the best possible speech and breathing.
The tailored shape means a snug and uniformed fit to your teeth, enabling best possible protection.
The quality of the material we use in the mouthguard are the strongest grade possible, while still being relatively thin.
They come in a range of colours, you can match it to your sporting team or keep it clear or plain.
For more on prevention practices view our TOP 10 Prevention TIPS List.
Emergency Dental Care Tips: Cracked Teeth, Tooth
Including Severe or Acute Pain to the Tooth, Teeth, Gums & Mouth...
Emergency Dental Care Tips for Toothache
(Including Severe or Acute Pain to the Tooth, Teeth, Gums & Mouth)
Our general advice:
Rinse out your mouth with warm water to cleanse it.
Take x2 Nurofen, Advil or Ibuprofen then wait 3 hours.
Then take x2 Panadol or Paracetemol then wait 3 hours and repeat step 2.
You can repeat the above steps until you see us, on most occasions you will see us well before you have to do this. (Note: Do Not Apply aspirin directly to the source of the pain)
Dental Care 101: Prevention Tip
Let's get started with a few dental hygiene prevention tips...
Prevention Is Your Best Friend: Here's Our TOP 10 List
Every person's smile is unique and so is their dental care requirements. However, there a few things we can all do, from a young age, to ensure we keep the teeth we have and keep them healthy. Let's get started with a few dental hygiene prevention tips:
Our top tips:
Brush Regular!It's simple but lots of us don't do this most simplest of activities. So, brush twice a day, after meals where possible.
Floss Regular. Twice a day to be exact! A slow sawing motion is the best way to do it. If you're not sure how to do it ask your Dentist at your next visit. If you are a regular 'flosser' you should check your technique at your next check-up, just in case. For detailed info on how to floss right check out our flossing tips page (link to come).
Choose The Right Toothbrush For You. The toothbrush you choose should have a head small enough so that you can reach behind your back teeth. The bristles should also be soft, these will be kinder to your gums long term.
Right. The average adult should brush their teeth for about 3 minutes and combine a technique of up and down on teeth surfaces and soft circular motion where your teeth meet your gums. Anything shorter and you're probably not paying enough attention to where and how you're brushing. If you brush longer than 3 minutes you may be causing gum or plaque damage, so keep it close to 3 minutes. For detailed instructions on how to brush right check out our brushing tips page (link to come).
Limit Acidic Foods & Drinks. These include things like soft drink or fizzie drinks, cordials and fruit juices. The acidic levels in these manufactured foods and drinks are concentrated and above the desired standard levels. They will dissolve the minerals contained in the enamel that coats and protects your teeth, leading to cavities (holes).
Limit Sugary Foods. These include things like lollies and candies, sweeteners, dried fruits, cakes, jams, some cereals and sauces. The bacteria in dental plaque change sugars in to acids and we all know what that does.
Protect Teeth From Injury. Always wear a mouthguard or full-face helmet when playing any contact sports.
Save Dislodged Teeth. Should your teeth be knocked out while playing sport or in an altercation or accident, seek medical advice immediately. Once you have done this you should wrap the tooth in plastic or place it in a container of milk until you are able to seek medical advice.
Use Your Teeth To Chew! Doing things like cracking nuts, opening bottles by popping off the lid with your teeth, or sucking on a hard boiled lollies or candies can crack or chip your teeth. These may not be evident or noticeable at the time they occur but will develop in to bigger problems with time.
Use A Fluoridated Toothpaste. Fluoride hardens your tooth enamel and helps greatly to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Emergency Dental Care Tips: Toothache
Emergency Dental Care Tips for Toothache
(Including Severe or Acute Pain to the Tooth, Teeth, Gums & Mouth)
1. Rinse out your mouth with warm water to cleanse it. 2. Take x2 Nurofen, Advil or Ibuprofen then wait 3 hours. 3. Then take x2 Panadol or Paracetemol then wait 3 hours and repeat step 2. 4. You can repeat the above steps until you see us, on most occasions you will see us well before you have to do this.
(Note: Do Not Apply aspirin directly to the source of the pain)
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