Christmas is a most unfortunate time of year to need a dentist, with few dental practice staying open over the festive season. Because of the high consumption of sticky foods or acidic drinks, people being run down or having a low immune system because of one to many late nights, dental problems at Christmas are all too common!
Here's a guide from Dr Jennifer Collins in what do if you need a dentist and can't get to one.
Lost Crown
If your crown gets lose or falls out over Christmas, get to your local pharmacy and purchase "temporary filling/cement material". Dry the surface of your tooth as best you can (inhale deeply and place cotton buds adjacent to your tooth in the buccal sulcus) and recement your crown with the temporary material. It has a white chalky consistency and will do the job until you see you dentist.
Lost filling
The same applies if you break a tooth or lose a filling. Use your temporary filling material purchased in your chemist, dry your tooth and use your finger to place the white chalky material over your tooth. It does not matter if you do a "messy job". The idea is to protect the tooth, help make it less sensitive and soften sharp edges. Your dentist will easily be able to remove it when you see him or her after Christmas.
Wisdom tooth pain
This is a complaint common around Christmas. If you wisdom tooth is painful and you are having problems opening and closing your mouth, you will need to take antibiotics. In the short term; rinse your mouth out with hot salty water which will dry out the superficial infection on your gums by osmosis. It cannot stomach salty water, corsodyl mouthwahs, used for a few days only, will also keep the area clean. Make sure you drink lots of water and take analgesia to ease the pain.
Toothache
There is almost nothing worse than a bad toothache. There are many household remedies which may help, clove oil dipped in cotton roll, placed next to a sore tooth can work a treat
. A cold pack near the tooth also may help. Over the counter analgesia, e.g. paracetamol or ibuprofen ( if you don't have a medical issue which contraindicate their use e.g. stomach ulcers or asthma) will reduce the pain and may help you through the night if you cannot sleep with it .
Abscess
If you have an abscess, or swelling, you may need to take antibiotics. Book into an emergency doctor (if you cannot reach your dentist), and start taking antibiotics immediately. You won’t be able to drink alcohol, but it will be worth it to be abscess free! #dentist #abscess #dentalemergenrcy #toothache #chippedtooth #fracturedtooth #fracturedfilling #dentalcareireland #northumberlanddentalcare #wisdomtooth #wisdomtoothinfection