Some dental emergencies are pretty obvious, such as a chipped tooth, damaged orthodontics, or even a tooth being knocked out. But sometimes, they may appear minor but still require help from an emergency dentist. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about what to do when something is caught between your teeth!
Extracting Trapped Objects with Floss
You could have a particle of food caught between your teeth, or even stuck under the gums. When this happens, this could feel irritating and annoying, but could also increase the risk of swelling and inflammation in the gums, adding to your discomfort. Over time, this could also be a factor in the onset of a cavity and eventually, a dental infection. Which is why removing the object is paramount for your oral health and comfort. First, rinse with warm water and then gently floss on either side of the tooth, running the tape or string up and down the length of each side, and dipping beneath the gum line if possible.
If this fails to dislodge the object, don’t use anything else, as you risk damaging your teeth or gums. Instead, contact our team for emergency dentistry.
Scheduling an Emergency Visit
You can call our team right away to schedule a same-day visit in some cases. However, if the injury happens outside of our normal business hours, we urge you to contact us and leave a message. We will reach out to you with potential appointment times, as we want to see you right away to alleviate your discomfort and protect your smile from worsening symptoms.
Protecting Your Smile
For dental emergencies like damaged or knocked-out teeth, you can limit your risk by wearing a custom mouthguard when you play full contact sports, like football or martial arts, or even sports like baseball or basketball. If you have specific foods that tend to become trapped between your teeth, you may consider avoiding them or cutting back on them. If you want to keep your smile healthy and strong outside of emergency situations, be sure you see our team for a checkup and cleaning visit every six months.
If you have any questions about addressing objects or food caught between your teeth, or if you have another dental emergency concern, then contact our team right away to learn more.
Learn More About Our Approach To Emergency Dentistry
Even seemingly minor concerns like something stuck between your teeth could be a cause for concern. Remember, with emergency dental care we can take on issues that cause pain or even damage to your teeth or gums. Don’t delay, talk to our team today about possible solutions. To schedule an appointment for dental emergencies, just contact Robert M. Browne DDS in Prairie Village, KS by calling (913) 901-8585.