What is a dental emergency and when you can wait to visit a dentist?

As per reliable sources (American Family Physician), approximately 22% of individuals have had to face the wrath of dental or oral pain in the last half a year. And this only implies that dental problems and dental emergencies are common and require a trip to the dentist frequently.
Let us find out when you must visit a dentist without further delay and the instances when you can afford to wait for a while, which means at least a couple of days. So, read on for more information.

Instances of dental emergencies

Following dental conditions require your immediate attention-

1. You are severe pain, and you are also showing signs of bleeding from the mouth
2. You have a tooth that is loose and about to fall off
3. Presence of an abscess at the base of the tooth or gums
4. Infection that causes swelling of the face on the side of the infected tooth
5. If you have just broken a tooth due to injury or trauma
6. If you have a broken tooth and friction against the wall of the cheeks is causing redness and pain
All the above instances call for registering your name as soon as possible for emergency dental services and any situation that requires stopping a bleeding mouth or do away with severe pain in an emergency.

Instances when you can wait for few days to visit the dentist

You will know for yourself when your dental problem may not be an emergency. The following instances do not call for an emergency visit to the dentist. These are-

1. If you have a pain that is not severe enough and subsides with an OTC or over-the-counter medicine
2. If you have a denture that is causing mild discomfort
3. If you have a broken or chipped tooth that is not causing any pain or redness when it rubs against your gums or cheeks

Ways to keep dental emergencies at bay

There are many ways in which you can avoid an emergency trip to the dentist. There are instances when you will not be able to avoid an emergency if you have an unexpected fall or injury to your tooth/teeth.

One of the best measures you can take to avoid dental problems is to maintain excellent oral hygiene. Make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Flossing is equally important and can keep the crevices in between your teeth free of food particles. Also, using a mouthwash can work wonders and keep cavities and dental decay at bay.

There are different types of mouthwash available in the market, and you must opt for one after consulting a dentist when you visit for your routine dental checkup. If you wear dentures, make sure you clean them regularly and find out which toothpaste will be best suited for your case. And every 3 or 6 months a visit to the dentist is desirable. Ram Duriseti