20
Jul
Summer Vacation Boise Dental Accidents
Here in the Treasure Valley, summer is filled with fun, endless activities. These include swimming, playing at the park, bike riding, hiking, camping, boating, trampolines, and more. It also means that dental accidents are more prone to happen. That’s why it’s important to take precautions and be prepared with the following advice in case a Boise dental accident occurs.
Toothache
If you find yourself with an unwanted toothache, try brushing and flossing your teeth gently to remove any stuck food particles that may have gotten wedged somewhere and rinse with warm water. Still sore? Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Don’t, however, place anything hot directly on your gums or teeth. Also, you may want to stick with soft foods until you are able to visit your Boise dentist to have the cause of your toothache examined.
Broken Tooth
If you happen to break a tooth, it’s important to control any bleeding with a bit of gauze and some light pressure. If the injury is painful, you can use an over-the-counter pain reliever mentioned above to help make you feel more comfortable. Until you are able to visit your Boise dentist, you will want to avoid any hard foods and apply dental wax over any sharp edges to protect your cheeks, tongue, and gums. The same advice applies if you have a broken filling or crown.
Knocked-Out Tooth
If you find yourself suddenly missing a tooth, the most important thing you can do is try and find it. Rinse the tooth gently in cold water (don’t scrub or use soap), and avoid touching it by the root. If the tooth is permanent, immediately try replacing it in the socket and hold it there using a clean washcloth. However, it’s important to know that you should not replace a baby tooth – doing so can damage the developing tooth below. If the above isn’t an option, place the tooth in a clean container with milk or cool water. Either way, it’s important to get to your Boise dentist ASAP. The faster you act, the better your chances are of saving the tooth.
Oral Injury & Bleeding
If you find yourself with a more serious oral injury and there’s bleeding, it’s important to gently rinse your mouth warm water and find the injury source. Then apply gentle pressure with some gauze to help stop the bleeding. If you can’t get the bleeding to stop, head to your local emergency room if your Boise dentist is unavailable.
Summit Dental Group
Keep in mind that no matter how hard we try to prepare for a worst-case scenario, accidents do happen. In the case of a dental emergency, contact Summit Dental at (208) 314-2275. Our dedicated team of professionals can provide you with over-the-phone recommendations as well as schedule an appointment depending on the severity of your dental emergency.