Caring for Tooth Injuries Between Visits to the Dentist
In order to properly care for your teeth, you need to visit a dentist. This is especially true after a mouth injury. However, you also need to properly care for your injured tooth in between these visits.
Tooth injuries are common,
yet many people are unsure of what to do when they injure their teeth or gums. While you may see the dentist to care for the acute injury, you need to take a few steps to prevent problems when you are in between visits.
Depending on the extent of your injury, you may need to take significant care in the days immediately following the incident. If you knocked out a tooth and the dentist was unable to put it back in, you are going to have to let your gums heal. Since the mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria, keeping the injured area clean and free of debris can be difficult.
Your gums are likely to be very sensitive, tender and sore for several days. Limit your food intake to foods that are soft and easy to eat without chewing. Avoid using a fork as you want to minimize any additional trauma to the gums. Applesauce, scrambled eggs, gelatin, and other soft foods are easy to eat.
Consult with your dentist to see how he recommends that you clean your mouth. He might suggest a mild mouth wash or a simple salt water rinse. Either way, you need to have a way to rinse away the food particles so that they do not cause irritation and infection. Avoid brushing the affected area until the tenderness is gone. You do not want to tear the delicate gum tissue while it is healing.
It is important to understand that mouth wounds do not heal overnight. If the damage is extensive, you may have tenderness and sensitivity for a long time. When a child knocks out his baby tooth (or teeth) the second set will not come in until they would have normally done so. For instance, if a 2 year old knocks out one of his front teeth, he will likely be at least 6 or 7 years old before those teeth come back. Your dentist may want to do X-rays to see if the permanent teeth are developing correctly. If permanent teeth are knocked out, some sort of implants or other prosthetics will eventually need to be placed in the mouth.
Preventing future injuries to the teeth and gums is vital. There are mouth guards available at your local sporting goods store, but your dentist may recommend a custom fitted mouth guard. Be sure to consult with him to find out what he thinks is the best course of action.
It is also very important that you continue to attend your semi-annual cleanings. During these visits, your mouth is examined for potential problems, and it is a perfect time to have the injury reevaluated and your progress charted. Neglecting these appointments can be detrimental to your overall oral health and can affect the charting of the progress of your healing.
