Dental emergencies can occur at any time of the day or night, and when they do, you need to be prepared. One of the preparedness measures that you can take to handle a dental emergency is getting an emergency dentist, such as those at Bath Street Dental Practice, beforehand. This can be your go to dentist whose facility offers 24-hour dental emergency services. If you do not have an emergency dentist, you can set out to finding one before you find yourself with a bad toothache in the middle of the night.

There are various conditions that trigger dental emergencies. They can result from an injury, cavity or even extreme sensitivity due to tooth whitening. In some situations, there are some measures that you can take before you get to your emergency dentist. This article will take a look at some dental emergencies and the immediate measures to take in each case.

Excruciating pain in the tooth

Toothaches can be unbearable when they occur. Some people take painkillers to cool down the tooth, but for others this never works. Pain can be as a result of a tooth cavity in which case you will need a root canal performed. If you have a sudden pain around one specific tooth, you should floss it first. This is because it is possible that something has stuck into it. You can also use a cold compress on the side of the jaw before getting to your emergency dentist.

Bleeding

Bleeding can be caused by trauma in the gums, lips or tongue. It can also be as a result of gum disease. In case you have bleeding, you need to contact your dentist immediately. Excessive bleeding can give you nausea or dizziness. Before getting to an emergency room, you can put a cold compress against the area to limit the bleeding.

Fractured tooth

A fractured tooth can result from an injury that causes a tooth to break or get chipped. Contacting your emergency dentist immediately can help save and retain your natural tooth without getting bridges or a crown. It is important that you do not try to pull out the tooth since this can be painful and frustrate any efforts of saving it. A cold compress can be used to ease the pain around the tooth.

Tooth sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity results from exposure of the sensitive part of the tooth known as the dentine due to a tooth cavity and teeth grinding, among other conditions. Tooth whitening can also lead to sensitivity in some situations. This causes a sharp pain when you take in anything hot or cold and can be very uncomfortable. Tooth sensitivity is a dental emergency since it prevents one from being able to take in any hot or cold beverages and foods. Aside from staying away from these foods until you see a dentist, you can brush gently using toothpaste specially made for sensitive teeth if you are able to access it.

Since a dental emergency can occur at any time, it is important to know what to do in such situations before contacting your emergency dentist. In most cases, a cold compress will help ease the pain before you get to the facility or have your dentist come over. It is important to avoid any poking or disturbance of teeth that can cause further damage and pain.