With everyday life being so busy it is easy to skip appointments that may seem silly, like the dentist! But, it’s actually really important to go to the dentist every six months to ensure your dental health is in the best shape. When people ignore going to the dentist they’re not just neglecting plaque build up, but also possibly ignoring a dental emergency.
A dental emergency can include a toothache, losing a tooth, chipping a tooth, a rotting tooth, and everything in between! If you’re ignoring a dental emergency you may be making the problem worse.
Dental Emergencies Not Worth Ignoring
It is important to call your dentist in during a dental emergency, and in severe cases, you might need to go to the emergency room. When you experience dental pain, it can be a sign of a cavity or deep infection. If this goes untreated it can spread to the center of the tooth, infecting the pulp and causing the nerves of the tooth to become inflamed. Along with that, you wouldn’t want to ignore the following dental emergencies:
- One issue that you many might not classify as an emergency is bleeding from the mouth. Your mouth has a lot of bacteria to keep it from bleeding, so if it is that’s a red flag. Minor bleeding from the mouth during flossing and brushing is a warning sign of gum disease. But if you are bleeding from the mouth severely or non-stop due to a cut, you may need stitches. Cuts may occur from a result of breaking a tooth. If you notice blood in your saliva, this could be something more serious, like advanced gum disease or cancer.
- Oral sores happen often, but if they last for longer than a week without any relief, it’s time to go see the dentist. Canker sores affect the inner parts of the lips and gums. The deeper the sore, the longer it will take to heal, and are more susceptible to infection. See your dentist if the sore is recurring frequently, over the counter medicine does not help with pain, you are experiencing difficulty eating, or it causes swelling or fever.
- If you develop a bump in your mouth this can be a sign of oral cancer. It is best to go to the dentist immediately so they can classify the bump and provide treatment.
- If a tooth is cracked or loose there is a high risk that bacteria can reach the inside of the tooth, called the pulp. If a tooth breaks, the pulp is exposed, and if infection leads to pulp, you can lose your tooth. It can also spread into your mouth and throughout your body the network of blood vessels in the tooth.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Waiting until it’s too late may result in your issue progressing! If you’re experiencing any of the dental emergencies listed above, please contact Colorado Dental Group for an emergency appointment.