Every one of us has experienced tooth pain at least once or twice in our lifetime. Toothache is very common, yet the discomfort and pain are not always bearable. Therefore it is often difficult to know which tooth discomfort must be taken more seriously than others. And when one should call an emergency dentist.
The most important indicator of when to call your emergency dental care provider is the degree of pain in the tooth. A tooth can ache at varying levels. Therefore an excellent way of knowing if it’s time to see a dentist immediately is if the pain subsides within half an hour to one hour. If the tooth ache is very severe and causes interruption in your sleep, ability to focus or think of anything other than the pain, you must see your dentist immediately.
Apart from the pain, several other symptoms of the tooth suggest you need to seek a doctor immediately.
Following is a list of symptoms that must be taken seriously and acted upon immediately
1. Tooth Pain
Toothache can be easily the most crucial precursor to knowing if you have a dental emergency. A little pain can be due to a minor sensitivity or loose gums. Although these issues must be addressed, you can wait for your next dentist appointment. A sharp, throbbing pain in the tooth that does not seem to go away must be taken care of immediately. It can be caused due to a myriad of reasons, such as swelling in the root requiring an immediate root canal, infected gum, fracture in the tooth, etc.
2. Bleeding gums
Bleeding gums does not always require immediate attention. But that is for the doctor to decide. If you notice heavy bleeding in the gums, you must see a doctor immediately and get yourself checked. Bleeding gums can be a symptom of anything from brushing your teeth too hard to a deficiency of vitamin C. Therefore, we must see a doctor not to delay treatment and let our dental hygiene worsen.
3. Broken or cracked tooth
A broken or cracked tooth can be painless and may not seem like an emergency. But you must keep in mind that a broken tooth might get worse with chewing or just touching it with your tongue repeatedly. Usually caused by accident, a broken tooth is a cause of immediate concern, and you should contact your doctor about the same as soon as you can.
4. Knocked out tooth
This situation is different from an accident resulting in a chipped tooth. You must see your dentist soon if your permanent teeth come out or are wobbling in the socket. This is a much bigger problem if the patient is younger. While trying to keep the teeth in the socket, if you can’t, keep it in a sanitised environment. Knocked-out or wobbly teeth can result from a calcium deficiency, but you must seek your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
5. Tooth Abscess
A tooth abscess is more common than you think. A tooth abscess can start as a mild inflammation in the gums around the teeth with slight discomfort. This can quickly accelerate to painful pus, which requires special attention. The cause of this condition can be many, and the infection of the abscess can cause your body temperature to rise. The patient might also not be feeling well. Even though this might not be the most dental pain you have experienced, you must seek a dentist as soon as symptoms occur. This is because there is a high possibility of the infection spreading and becoming much worse than it has to.
5. Extreme Bad breath
A bad morning breath is natural. A usual two-four minutes of brushing your teeth and gargling your mouth makes it go away. But terrible breath is a different scenario altogether. This is usually due to something other than waking up in the morning or eating some intensely flavoured food. Extreme bad breath is a symptom of some severe health issue which sometimes requires the attention of your dentist and your health doctor. Possible reasons for this condition can be from gum infection to diabetes. Therefore, take care of your oral hygiene regularly, including flossing and tongue cleaning in your routine. Therefore do not ignore this symptom by gargling with mouthwash more often.
Summary
Although we may prioritise oral health in our daily life and see our dentist for a weekly or monthly appointment, we may face these issues. But seeing a dentist regularly helps the dentist know about your general dental problems. Also, this can
help keep everything from going unattended to the extent that it becomes an emergency. You cannot avoid certain situations, but with a regular visit to your doctor, many can be treated quickly. Therefore, you must take care of your teeth, gums and mouth and see your dentist regularly.
If you happen to be suffering from any of the above symptoms, kindly contact your dentist. Or you can contact our expert dentist in St. Clair.