Everyone knows that pain is the body’s way of getting your attention, and saying that something is wrong. But how can you tell whether the pain in your mouth is something you can treat with an over-the-counter remedy, or requires a trip to OnCall Dental in Fresno?
Knowing when you should head into to our office is important, but so is knowing when not to! We have some thoughts on that.
- A loose tooth. If it’s your kid, it’s probably no big deal. Children lose their teeth starting around the age of six or seven. But if you’re the one with the loose tooth, it’s anoher matter. Adults should never have loose teeth. A loose tooth may be the result of a trauma, a localized infectio or some other issue. Should you come to our office? Yes.
- Bleeding gums. It’s not uncommon to see a little bleeding when you floss your teeth, especially if you don’t floss on a regular basis. It could, however, be a sign of gum disease. And if the bleeding is excessive, or it happens over and over, you may be a problem. A trip to our office is a good idea.
- A swollen jaw. Again, this could be result of a trauma. It might also be a sign of an infection. If it is accompanied by a fever, a foul taste in your mouth, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, you should absolutely head to our office.
- Toothache. Our first question: how bad is the pain? Where would you place it on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst pain? If it’s a five or above, a trip to the office is in order. There are lots of different things that may be causing it, which will determine how we treat it.
- Metallic taste in your mouth. If you’ve had metal fillings in the past, this may be an indication one of them has cracked or become loose. You may have an open filling, and that’s a serious matter. It could lead to new infections and cavities. A trip to our office is in order, right away.
At OnCall Dental in Fresno, emergency dental care is our specialty, and we don’t want you taking any unnecessary chances. You don’t need an appointment; walk-ins are always welcome.
