Handling Dental Disaster with an Emergency Dentist in Charlottesville

The holidays are a great time of year for parties, family, and of course, food. However, this is also a time of increased dental emergencies. Whether you’re trying to open gifts with your teeth or even cracking a bottle, people are more likely to damage their smile during this time of year. Thankfully, your emergency dentist in Charlottesville knows what to do if there’s a dental disaster. Keep reading to learn the best steps to take if a dental emergency happens during the holidays.

Your Tooth Gets Knocked Out

If your tooth gets knocked out, grab it by the crown so you don’t damage its roots. Rinse your tooth off with water and then try to place it back in its socket. If this isn’t possible, put it in some milk or water with a bit of salt to keep it moist. Get in to see your dentist as soon as you can. The sooner you see your dentist, the higher the chances are that your teeth will be able to be successfully replanted.

Your Tooth is Broken or Chipped

If you break or chip your tooth, try to find any pieces that break off. Rinse your mouth and the pieces of your tooth, then apply a cold compress to ease the swelling. If you’re bleeding, you’ll want to apply pressure to the affected area with gauze for about 10 minutes (or until the bleeding stops). After you’ve stopped any bleeding, get in to see your dentist as soon as possible.

You Have a Severe Toothache

If you get a toothache over the holidays, rinse your mouth out with warm water and then floss around the area. Sometimes, it can be as easy as removing some pesky food debris. If you’re still in pain, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth, take some over-the-counter pain medication, and then call your dentist right away.

You Lose a Filling

Sticky candies like caramel and taffy can cause a filling to come loose. If you lose a filling, put a piece of sugar-free gum over the cavity that it filled to keep it protected. Even better, you can use dental cement found at your local drugstore. After you’ve protected your tooth, visit your dentist in Charlottesville as soon as possible.

You Have an Abscess

If you see something that looks like a pimple or little white dot in your mouth, see your dentist right away. This is an infection that can spread to your gums, teeth, and even other parts of the body, so you’ll want to get it treated as soon as possible.

Now that you know the best ways to deal with dental disaster, are you ready for the holidays? Use these tips to take care of you and your family’s oral health.

About the Practice

At Blue Ridge Dental, we have a team of 3 dentists who each bring different experiences and specialties to the practice to deliver patients high-quality dentistry. They offer expert emergency dental care to get you out of pain as fast as possible. For any questions, they can be contacted through their website or by phone at (434) 823-2385.