A dental emergency can always catch you by surprise. See what steps you can take right now to get prepared for one.
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Dental Coverage:
If you can get dental coverage through your health insurance, then you should jump at the opportunity. The insurance could help you cover the treatment costs, making even the worst visits to your dentist a little less painful.
If you don’t have coverage, you’re not the only one. The CDC found that only 50% of adults from the ages of 18 to 64 had dental care coverage in the past 12 months. They also reported that people with coverage were more likely to go to the dentist since they weren’t as worried about the costs.
Emergency Funds:
If you can’t get covered through your health insurance, then you should start an emergency fund. Every month you should put some money from your household budget into this fund. You can dip into it when you have an urgent dental problem.
While you’re building up that fund, you can depend on a different type of back-up plan, like a line of credit. If you don’t have the savings to fix your tooth, you can request a withdrawal from this bank line of credit and then deal with repayments after. Click here to see how you can get a line of credit through CreditFresh and whether you meet all of the requirements to apply. It could really come in handy.
What Are Common Dental Emergencies?
Toothache:
You have a really bad toothache. You can’t eat or drink without wincing. You can’t fall asleep because the feeling is too intense. What can you do?
First, make an appointment with your dentist immediately. Then take an ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate the pain. Apply a cold compress on your face to control the swelling. The cold might also dull the pain.
There are multiple causes of toothaches ranging from gingivitis to grinding your teeth when you’re asleep. If you have an idea about why you’re getting this pain, let your dentist know. They’ll investigate during your appointment.
Lost Filling:
You can lose a filling by biting into a hard or crunchy piece of food. One minute, you’re eating an apple and then you notice that something is wrong with one of your molars. What can you do?
Call your dentist to schedule an appointment to refill it right away. Until your appointment, gargle warm saltwater after you eat to keep the area clean. You can use a piece of sugar-free gum to replace your filling until the appointment.
Infection:
Some of the signs of dental abscess (a tooth infection) are fever, toothache, sensitivity and swelling. If you think you’re dealing with an infection, you need to call up your dentist immediately. They might suggest that you go to the emergency room.
An infection can be dangerous. Don’t ignore it or try to fix it on your own.
Prevention is Key
Preparing for the worst isn’t the only thing that you should do if you want to avoid a dental emergency. Taking better care of your teeth is a great way to avoid the worst altogether. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take preventive measures and seek dental expertise from the cosmetic dentistry near me tamarac now. These are some essential oral care tips to follow:
- Brush your teethat least twice a day using a toothpaste that’s high in fluoride
- Floss every day
- Quit smoking cigarettes
- Eat less candy
- Drink less soda, coffee and tea
- Drink lots of water
There will be times when you can’t avoid the dentist. You’ll need to see them right away. After reading these tips, you’ll know exactly what to do when those times strike.
