When you suffer injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth, a visit to the emergency dentist is in order. Most times, people take diseases and injuries to the teeth more seriously, forgetting that the soft tissues of the mouth — the tongue, lips, cheek lining and gums — are not exempt. Gum injuries can occur from scalding liquids, sports injuries, falls and accidental bites. Also, foreign objects that get trapped below the gum line can become painful and cause serious abscesses.
The following are common treatments that an emergency dentist may provide for gum injuries.
Gum injuries do not bleed profusely, although the bleeding may look worse than it is when the blood mixes with saliva. Anyone who has this type of injury can try rinsing their mouth with a mild saltwater solution. If the wound is visible, they can try cleaning it with mild soap and water. If they cannot do that, they can attempt to remove any foreign objects and rinse again.
Pressing damp gauze directly on the injury for about 10 to 15 minutes can help to control the bleeding. If bleeding persists, a quick visit to the emergency dentist is paramount. Patients need to see the dentist within six hours of the injury for examination and treatment. They will ascertain the severity of the damage, perform basic restorative procedures and probably stitch up the wound. The patient may also get antibiotics or a tetanus shot if needed.
Sometimes, a foreign object may get trapped in the gap between the teeth and gums, causing inflammation and potential infection. Foods such as popcorn husks are common culprits, but items placed in the mouth, such as wood splinters of toothpicks or fingernail bits, can cause injury too.
If someone has an object stuck under their gum, they can try to use dental floss to take it out. Gently flossing up and down along the gum line may dislodge the object. Applying mild pressure with a toothpick may also help remove the object. If simple techniques fail, the dentist will use special dental tools to locate and remove the material, and patients may get meds to stop an infection.
A periodontal abscess is a pus-filled sac that develops between the teeth and gums. Also called a gum boil, an abscess is a result of an infection that may be caused by untreated periodontal disease or objects trapped below the gum line. The pressure that builds up inside abscesses makes them painful.
Symptoms include tenderness and swelling of gum and face, fever and unexpected throbbing toothache. Sometimes the pus draining into the mouth from the sac may cause a strange taste. If neglected, abscesses can continue for months and lead to serious health issues, including the spread of infection to other parts of the body.
When the patient visits the emergency dentist, the dental professional will try to locate the abscess and provide appropriate treatment. Treatment typically entails draining the pus and fluid, carefully cleaning the infection site and controlling the infection. One of the possible procedures, used by cosmetic dentists, is LANAP, a periodontal laser procedure that uses PerioLase to get rid of gum infections.
A visit to the emergency dentist is crucial if you have a gum injury or notice symptoms of a gum abscess.
Request an appointment here: https://www.casasadobesdentistry.com or call Casas Adobes Dentistry at (520) 365-0559 for an appointment in our Tucson office.
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