A mild toothache, gum discomfort or a chipped tooth are not necessarily a cause for concern at first glance. These issues are often thought to get better with time or when life calms down. Sadly, when care is delayed it is easy for a simple problem to get worse, more painful, more complex, and more expensive to resolve.
Knowing what not to do can keep your teeth safe and prevent painful problems. When you experience a dental emergency in Sherman Oaks, it’s easy to make some common errors, errors that can endanger your oral health. When a dental emergency hits, it’s easy to make some of the right common mistakes that could potentially endanger the health of your mouth.
Ignoring Tooth Pain Because It Comes and Goes
If the pain goes away, this doesn’t mean the problem has gone away. In many cases, intermittent pain indicates the tooth is inflamed, or infected under the surface.
Complaints of cavities or damaged teeth and fillings tend to occur and then disappear and only return as a chronic problem. If left until it is very painful, bacteria can penetrate deeper into the tooth, which can lead to a need for more extensive treatment.
When you’re dealing with issues that you’re having again, it’s best to schedule an appointment for a dental emergency in Sherman Oaks.
Waiting Too Long to Treat a Broken Filling or Crown
Sometimes an empty filling or a loose crown is not an emergency, if there is no pain upon initial placement. These restorations, however, are meant to be applied to sensitive areas of the tooth.
If the protection is not, the tooth is more prone to crack, decay or infection. Chewing even normally can worsen the damage.
It can be important to seek treatment immediately after a dental emergency, such as a loose filling or crown, to avoid further treatment down the road.
Assuming Swelling Will Go Away on Its Own
Do not ignore facial swelling or swollen gums. Swelling is frequently your body’s reaction to infection or substantial inflammation.
Dental infections cannot be treated at home and are not likely to resolve on their own. If left untreated, they may grow into adjacent tissue and cause health problems.
When swelling is also painful, with fever or if it makes it hard to swallow, it is essential to get immediate attention regarding a dental emergency in Sherman Oaks.
Using Home Remedies Instead of Seeing a Dentist
While home remedies can alleviate some of the pain, they will not heal a cracked tooth, fill decayed areas or cure an infection.
Wash with warm salt water, use cold compresses or an OTC (Over-the-Counter) pain medication to help keep you comfortable until your appointment. But using the web to treat the condition rather than professional treatment can mean that the condition can get worse.
At Clove Dental Sherman Oaks, we always remind our patients that home care is a temporary solution, not a replacement for the care they are receiving in our office.
Continuing to Chew on a Damaged Tooth
Many people will keep eating normally after a tooth chipping or cracking as it appears to be insignificant.
Unfortunately, every day chewing applies pressure to weakened tooth structure. The little cracks can easily grow into large fractures that go below the gum line, and the tooth becomes more difficult to save.
If a tooth is broken or damaged, avoid chewing food on the affected side of your mouth until you’ve been evaluated for a dental emergency in Sherman Oaks.
Delaying Care Because the Problem Doesn’t Look Serious
Not all dental emergencies involve a lot of blood or extreme pain.
If an adult tooth is loose, is sensitive, begins to bleed after injury or if it hurts when biting down, it could be a sign of issues that need to be addressed promptly.
Folks find themselves surprised by the fact that treatment often doesn’t have to be as complex as it is once symptoms are debilitating. When a dental emergency occurs, early action leads to more choices for your dentist to maintain the natural tooth, if possible.
Putting Off Treatment Because of Cost Concerns
When it comes to unforeseen dental expenses, it’s natural to get anxious. However, the later delay of treatment can result in more complicated procedures later.
For instance, a small cavity does not require a root canal or extraction whereas the infected tooth may do.
We want to make sure you understand your treatment choices and what’s urgent, and what’s safe to wait on. At Clove Dental Sherman Oaks, we will help you make well-informed choices that will benefit your oral health and your smile for years to come.
How You Can Reduce the Risk of a Dental Emergency
Many emergencies build up over time, even if it’s not always possible to avoid an accident.
There are simple habits you can engage in that can greatly reduce your risk:
- Make sure to get regular dental check-ups.
- Fillings should be performed prior to the cavity becoming big.
- Use a mouth guard for sports.
- Don’t chew ice or hard candy or chew on non-food items.
- Replace worn-fillings and damaged crowns as recommended.
- Do not dismiss if you develop new sensitivity or if it persists after the surgery.
These preventive measures help detect early issues and prevent them from escalating into a dental emergency in Sherman Oaks.
Conclusion
You can often have serious dental issues that start out as something that is easy to ignore. Today you might not notice any issues with a minor toothache, loose filling or chipped tooth, but things can escalate rapidly if treatment is delayed.
Early detection of symptoms, avoiding common pitfalls, and timely professional treatment can often prevent unnecessary pain and more complicated procedures. Don’t take any measures of change in your oral well-being for granted. The best way to save your teeth, preserve your smile and ensure your long-term oral health is by addressing potential dental emergencies in Sherman Oaks in a timely manner.