A Lesson About Handling Dental Emergency

Do you have kids at home? Are you a caregiver, say a teacher, a nanny etc? I witnessed something recently that prompted me to write this article urgently..... and it happened at the innocent playground.....

I was sitting down watching my nephews playing. Suddenly there was a commotion. Apparently a little, around 10 years old, had falled down. Not only was she bleeding but she had 2 of her front tooth knocked-out. The saddes thing was, except for myself, the other parents at the playground does not seems to know much about knocked-out tooth and that an avulsed tooth is a serious dental emergency.

Today, I'd like to teach you something about Dental Emergency.

Here it is:

Just think how much you can help a child to maintain her self esteem and not to mention also maintaining a smile. At the same time, do you know how much money you can save over a lifetime if you take the steps to equip yourself and your child with the tools to handle life's dental emergencies?

The answer to the above questions - PRICELESS!!

Do you know that the most common dental problems usually develop gradually? They are usually the infamous tooth decay and periodontal disease. These type of dental problems are treat with regular and ongoing care, either at home or at your dentist's office.

However, there are some dental situations that may happen suddenly. This is because of an accident or an acute symptom. In cases like this, it is best that you get to your dentist for treatment immediately. Nevertheless, first-aid measures can help to make you more comfortable as well as the effectiveness of treatment later.

A dental first-aid kit

A few supplies are worth having at every household just in case there is a dental emergency. Most of them are your basic household items.

• Table salt or baking soda. Dissolve in warm water as a soothing mouthwash.
• Ice. It works best in reducing pain and swelling. You can also place ice in a plastic bag and wrapped it in a moist cloth to give you a simple cold pack.
• An over-the-counter topical anaesthetic ointment or liquid to apply to mouth sores.
• A mild pain reliever such as aspirin,.
• Sterile gauze to control bleeding in the mouth.
• The address and telephone number of your dentist.

However, it is recommended you get a professionally assembled Dental Emergency Kit. You can get it at http://www.mytoothcaretips.com/.

Let us look at all the different types of dental problem or ‘casualties' that may happen. Before we continue, always remember that pain is a way for your body to tell you that ‘something is wrong'. Even, over time the pain ‘goes away', it is advisable you visit your dentist for a thorough examination as soon as possible.

Toothache

As mentioned earlier, the infamous toothache. Everyone one of us, somehow, one way or another will definitely experience toothache in our life.

So what is a ‘toothache'?

It is define as an aching tooth, the most common but also one of the most unpleasant. The main culprit is usually a tooth decay. However, other conditions may also be responsible.

You can sometime reduce the pain by taking aspirin. Ice pack may give temporary pain relief. However if the pain is due to an inflamed tooth nerves, ice pack will not work, and occasionally the toothache becomes even more painful.

Whatever you do, please never apply a hot pack. This is because toothache often involves a bacterial infection and applying heat can cause it to spread. It is advisable also not to put an aspirin tablet against the tooth or gum. The acid from the aspirin can burn mouth soft tissue. Try not to chew on the tooth and avoid hot or sweet foods.

Impacted food particles

You are surprised? Do you know that for some people, sometimes a bit of fibrous food may become ‘caught', or impacted between two adjacent teeth? This becomes a ‘problem' when the fibrous food resist being dislodged by your tongue. Try flossing between the teeth.

When this occur, it is an evident sign of a tooth decay between the teeth or of a rough or broken restoration such as a filling or a crown. If it recur between the same teeth, see your dentist immediately.

A broken tooth

Part of a tooth may be broken off in accident or a fight, by chewing on a hard object, by the wedging action of a filling, or just spontaneously. For long term remedy, it is best that you rebuild the tooth with an inlay, onlay or crown. However, if you are unable to get to your dentist immediately, it is advisable to press a protective cover of dental wax over the broken tooth. Taking aspirin can reduce the pain. Please do not apply heat or cold to the area. Also switch to a soft diet and try not to chew on the tooth.

Usually it is not possible to reattach the broken part. However, it advisable for you to save it and bring it to your dentist. It might be a tooth-colored restoration (such as a porcelain filling) and can be salvage. Let your dentist access the situation and advise you.

A broken filling, lost filling or crown

Just like your natural teeth, fillings and artificial crown may become cracked or broken. In their case however, they are more likely to fall out completely. Temporary filling and crowns are especially likely to come loose. The recommended first-aid treatment is the same for a broken tooth.

An over-the-counter denture adhesive can sometimes help to temporarily reattach an artificial crown until you visit your dentist. Try as best as possible to save the filling or crown for dental examination. In some cases, some restorations, (in crowns especially), can be salvaged for reuse.

When a filling, or another restoration, has fallen out. This is usually an indication that decay has worked its way underneath. Prompt action can help to treat the cavity under a filling. If the decay is left untreated, root canal treatment may be necessary, or you can lose your entire tooth.

Avulsed or knocked-out tooth

An avulsed or knocked-out dental emergency usually have teeth completely knocked-out of their sockets. However if treated correctly and promptly, knocked-out teeth can be replanted. These injuries are most prevalent amongst children or young people. However, please take note that both adults and children are at risk.

With a proper and immediate emergency action, a knocked-out tooth can be successfully replanted and last for years. Hence, due to this, it is important that you or your child are prepared and know immediately what to do if this happens. The key is not only to act quickly, but also calmly and follow the following simple steps.

• Pick up the tooth by the crown (this is the chewing surface) and not by the root. Remember to handle the tooth carefully - touch only the crown - this will help to minimize injury to the tooth root.
• Keep the tooth moist at all times.
• See your dentist immediately. Bring the tooth to a dentist or endodontist as soon as possible - ideally within 30 minutes.

A complete information on avulsed or knocked-out dental emergency, ways to handle it and the best transport medium to preserve the knocked-out tooth are available at the Dental Emergency website at http://www.toothcaretips.com/. They have a professionally assembled dental emergency kit that is so easy to use and a step-by-step flowchart guide that is so simple even a 7 year old child can understand.

Bent or broken bridges, dentures, or orthondontic appliances

Most of the time, dental appliances or restorations are fairly sturdy. However, they may become bent or broken. Removable dentures are usually more susceptible to damage.

At considerable savings, broken devices can often be put back together compared to a complete replacement. So always save all broken pieces, no matter how small, and bring them to your dentist. Place them in a plastic bag or an envelope. Please remember to never place them in a piece of tissue. People always mistaken tissue as waste.

Never ever undertake repairs yourself. You should never try to glue broken pieces together. Remember that the glue can ruin them.

What should I do if a wire or a clasp is bent?

When this happens, you will definitely experience irritation in your mouth. Try to gently bend it back only enough to reduce the irritation. You can also use a small lump of dental wax to temporarily cover it. You can get your supply from your dentist for such an emergency.

However, in cases when the wire claps of a partial denture becomes bent, please do not try to ‘bend' it back. It is likely to break. Just simply remove the denture and visit your dentist. If you do not want your remaining teeth to begin drifting out of place, visit your dentist without delay.

Mouth sores

What are mouth sores? Mouth sores are caused by painful lesions on the lips and the soft tissues inside your mouth. Canker sores, cold sores and local irritations from hot, spicy foods are the ‘main culprit'. If the pain persist for more than a week, get your dentist to examine it. It could be a sign to more serious disorder.

These sores must be allowed to head by themselves. There is no quick, effective treatment. The following simple home remedies can make you more comfortable.

• Try rinsing your mouth with warm salt water to help reduce irritation
• Try applying a paste of baking soda to the lesions for a few minutes
• Try pressing pieces of ice against the lesions
• Avoid hot or spicy foods temporarily

The following are remedies that you SHOULD NOT use:

• Do not put aspirin on the sores. Even though you may experience temporary relief, the acid from the aspirin can seriously burn your mouth soft tissue.
• Do not take antibiotics unless specifically prescribed.
• Do not use topical steroids ointments unless prescribed. They can cause infections to spread.
• Do not apply hot packs.

Gumboils

Gumboils are painful pimple-like swellings that may appear on your gums. They are usually formed by pus from an abscess that works its way to the surface. Treat gumboils differently from your other mouth sores. Rinse with warm salt water to relieve irritation and to encourage the boil to form a ‘head'. This will eventually break to release the contents.

Gumboils are a sign of a possible serious infection or gum disease. Consult your dentist as soon as possible if it appears.

Gum inflammation near wisdom teeth

There are cases when the gum near your ‘wisdom' tooth becomes inflamed and painful. In dental terms, such conditions are known as ‘pericoronitis' or ‘inflammation around the crown'. Such cases happens because the molar is not erupting normally and is tipped or partially impacted. The inflammation can be caused by food particles and/or bacteria trapped between the gum.

Short term relief is by carefully rinsing your mouth after eating and flossing to prevent food particles from being trapped in between your teeth or gums. Long term relief is to have the offending tooth extracted.

Bleeding

There are 4 types of bleeding. They are bleeding gums, bleeding after a tooth extraction, bleeding from lacerations inside the mouth and bleeding from lacerations outside the mouth.

If bleeding occurs from inside your mouth, first thing you need to do is to try and discover the source and how extensive it is. Rinse your mouth with water and use a mirror to determine if the bleeding comes from the gums, the tongue, the palate, the floor of the mouth, or the lining of the cheeks or lips.

Get professional help immediately.

Bruised lips or cheeks

Blunt trauma can easily bruised the tissue of the lips and cheeks. This can cause swelling. To minimize swelling or discomfort, place ice against the area as soon as possible and hold it in place for approximately 20 to 30 minutes. If necessary repeat the procedure. However remember not to apply ice for more than 20 minutes every hour because excessive chilling can cause serious damage to your skin.

Dislocated jaw

Your lower jaw may be dislocated at the temporomandibular joints to one side or both sides. This is usually caused by accident. Car accidents are the common cause of dislocated jaw. However it can also be due to you taking too big a bite on your food or even yawning too wide.

When you suddenly find that you cannot close your mouth, stay calm. Nervous agitation will make it harder to relax your jaw muscles. Gently, try to work the jaw loose by moving it from side to side. Do not force your mouth shut. Always remember to keep your fingers away from your mouth, just in case it shuts suddenly. Please seek treatment from your dentist immediately. Reducing dislocation is not hard but it is best done by a professional.

Tongue injuries

Your tongue can sometimes ‘get bitten' accidentally. This happens usually during your sporting activities. When this happens, a wound with bleeding occurs. This type of injury is painful but not serious. If your wound is less than 1cm, you do not need any treatment. Just rinse your mouth with water. If, however the wound is more extensive, careful stitching by a doctor may be needed.

Here, I am going to elaborate more on knocked-out tooth or avulsed tooth. This is a serious dental emergency that usually happens unexpectedly BUT if acted properly and quickly, the knocked-out tooth can be successfully replanted.

I am not a dentist but my sister-in-law is a practicing prosthodontist. I learned this from her because she emphasized that the next important thing after your face is your teeth.

Do you know that the fragile periodontal cells or PDL around the root that attach the tooth to the surrounding bone begin to die once the tooth falls out of the mouth?

The incident at the playground made me realize that none of the parents present there were looking for the knocked-out tooth. Everyone was flocking to the girl.... hey don't they know that they might accidentally step on the knocked-out tooth?

Besides that, no one, I mean no one, not even the girl's mother had the courage to replace the knocked-out teeth back into the gaping hole. Definetely not for a screaming child. I went to help, and I was faced with the delima how the two teeth should fit correctly into the sockets. Since there were two teeth knocked-out, I really do not know which socket a tooth belongs to.

Most importantly, everyone there was more concerned on her other injuries that require more immediate attention. In her case, it was the bleeding and the external laceration. To replant the teeth, the child will be in severe pain and replantation will not be possible without anaesthesia.

I was most astounded that someone there who had picked-up the tooth took out a tissue and was about to 'clean' the teeth because it was covered with mud.

Hey....doesn't she know that it is a NO-NO to wash or scrub a knocked-out tooth if you want the tooth to be successfuly replanted?

Washing and Scrubbing will cause crushing damage to the delicate root cells. It also dehydrates the cells. Please remember that handling of the root of the knocked-out tooth should be kept to a minimal so as not to further damage the delicate root cells which are needed to reattach the tooth back to the supporting bone.

So ask yourself this question. If the same were to happen to my kid, am I prepared to handle the dental emergency quickly, efficiently and most importantly calmly?

Before we continue, join the dental forum at http://mytoothcaretips.com/forum/

This is what you need to do......

Keep a dental emergency kit handy at all times ..... at home, in the car, in school.... anywhere and any place that an accident can happen. During a dental emergency, time is an essence. You need to preseve the tooth and bring it to your dentist immediately.

A dental emergency kit make it simple for you to handle such situations, helps to keep the tooth cells nourished so that your dentist can replant the tooth successfully and at the same time buys you time to treat all external injuries.

• It is so simple to use, you just need to pick up the knocked-out tooth by the "chewing part".
• Open the container and drop the knocked-out tooth into the container.
• Ask your child to bite on the gauze.
• You then need to clean any open wound with disinfectant or the sterile alcohol swab included in the dental emergency kit and apply a dressing to control the bleeding.
• Go to your dentist with your kid and the container that holds the knocked-out tooth.

In the US alone, almost 5 million teeth are knocked-out every year? Yet, there are still so many parents out there are not sure what to do?

Why are they risking their children's precious smiles? What is it worth to you to be prepared to save the smiles of your children? To me, every penny...

• 25% of school-aged children experience some kind of dental trauma!
• 50% of athletes experience dental trauma during their lifetime!
• The most common place where teeth are knocked-out is at home!

Source from http://www.mytoothcaretips.com.

The above are very important details you have to learn in order to know just how much you can save over a lifetime if you take the steps to equip your child with the tools to handle life's dental emergencies. If you do not know the details and are not prepared, you will be making the same mistakes as all the other parents.

That is why you owe it to yourself and your family to check out the Knocked-Out Tooth Dental Emergency Kit at http://www.mytoothcaretips.com/.

If you use their easy method, you will know that handling of the root of the knocked-out tooth is kept to a minimum so as not to further damage the delicate root cells which are needed to reattach the tooth back to the supporting bone.

PERIOD!

By the way, check out this great collection of dental emergency videos at http://mytoothcaretips.com/dentalvideos/

Enjoy!!!!