During this busy time of year, you don’t want your dental problems to interfere and delay your holiday fun. You can do everything you can to protect your smile, but accidents happen, and Dr. Foust is here to help you. Until you can get to our office, use a small first aid kit to relieve your emergency.
What is a dental emergency?
A dental emergency occurs when you seriously injure your mouth and experience unusual pain, bleeding, swelling, or any other side effect. Here are some common dental 911’s:
- Tooth knocked out
- Broken tooth
- Cracked tooth
- Something stuck between teeth
- Broken jaw
- Bitten tongue or lip
- Toothache
- Broken dental work (i.e. braces, fillings, crowns)
What to do in an emergency
If you have a serious dental injury, you should visit Dr. Foust immediately to try to save your smile. In the meantime, these handy items can help ease your discomfort.
- Cloth/Gauze: Many dental emergencies cause a lot of bleeding. It’s helpful to have a large supply of gauze or cloth bandages to help soak up blood and apply pressure to the area.
- Ice packs: Dental emergencies may cause your gums to swell up and become very tender. Holding a cold ice pack to your face can help numb the painful area and reduce the swelling.
- Painkillers: Over-the-counter pain medication can provide temporary relief for aches and pains.
- Salt Packets: Warm salt water can clean the wounded area and keep it free of infection. It can also reduce swelling.
- Small container: If you lose a tooth or part of your tooth, put it in a small container or bag. Keep the lost part clean and safe so Dr. Foust will have a better chance at restoring it.
You should also keep Dr. Foust’s contact phone number with you in case you have any questions. It’s important to take care of your dental problems as soon as possible to prevent further infection and injury. Contact Dental Impressions of Ankeny, IA, at (515) 965-0230 to schedule an appointment to check the health of your teeth and gums. We welcome patients from Polk City, Bondurant, Alleman, Elkhart, and surrounding areas.
