How to Handle Dental Emergencies During the Holidays

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From Tammy Davenport, About.com

The holidays are a time for fun, festivities and family ... not dental emergencies! Unfortunately, a dental emergency can happen any time, regardless of the season.

Imagine breaking a tooth on a bone during Christmas dinner or waking up on Christmas morning with a toothache! Would you be prepared if a family member got a tooth knocked out while playing with a new football during the holidays?

It is a good idea to make dental appointments for your whole family to have check ups and cleanings before the holidays to make sure that there are no immediate problems present.

If you or your family members have cavities, go ahead and get them filled. A cavity left untreated can become painful and could also cause your tooth to need a root canal once the decay reaches the pulp of the tooth.

The following tips can help you during a dental emergency until you can get to the dentist:

KNOCKED OUT TOOTH
Call your dentist immediately.
Place a wash cloth in the sink (so the tooth doesn’t go down the drain) and rinse it very gently handling only the top of the tooth. Do not scrub any tissue that may be attached to the tooth.
Gently place the tooth back into the socket. If this is not possible, place the tooth in a small container of milk. It’s very important to keep the tooth moist, and you will need to take the tooth to your dentist.

BROKEN TOOTH
Call your dentist immediately.
Clean your mouth out by rinsing thoroughly with warm water.
Apply a cold compress to the area to minimize any swelling.

POSSIBLE BROKEN JAW
If you think that your jaw might be broken, apply a cold compress to the area to minimize any swelling.
Call your dentist immediately or go to the emergency room of a nearby hospital.

TOOTHACHE
Do not put any pain killers, including aspirin, on the gum because it can burn the gum tissue.
Clean your mouth out by rinsing thoroughly with warm water.
Gently floss around the tooth to remove any food particles that may be caught there.
Call your dentist.
(For homeopathic-related remedies, check out 18 Tips 4 Relief of Painful, Temporary Toothaches)

BITTEN TONGUE OR LIP
Gently wipe the area clean with a cloth.
Apply a cold compress to the area to minimize any swelling.
Go to the emergency room of a nearby hospital if bleeding does not stop.

SOMETHING CAUGHT BETWEEN YOUR TEETH
Gently insert a piece of dental floss or a dental flosser.
Be very careful not to cut the gum tissue.
Never use a sharp object to try and remove something that is stuck in between your teeth
Be sure to talk with your dentist to find out if he/she will be available after hours during the holidays. If not, ask them to refer you to a dentist that will be handling their emergencies.

If you experience any pain from a dental problem, try taking ibuprofen. Aspirin should be avoided because it is an anticoagulant, which can cause too much bleeding during a dental emergency.

Sources: American Dental Association Dental Emergencies & Injuries.

Dental Benefits Market Experiences Largest Increase Since 1998

DALLAS, PRNewswire-USNewswire -- In 2006, 7 million more Americans received dental benefits than the year before, marking a 4.4 percent increase in total dental benefits enrollment, according to the 2007 Joint Dental Benefits Enrollment Report published by the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) and the Delta Dental Plan Association (DDPA).

"Cost is the top reason cited by consumers for not going to the dentist. Some 170 million Americans are turning to dental benefits to overcome the cost barrier in seeking dental care and maintaining their oral health," remarked NADP Executive Director Evelyn F. Ireland, CAE. "Market growth can be attributed to a new voluntary dental benefit under the expansion of the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program, an increase in other voluntary benefits, the introduction of products for the individual market and increasing focus on the connection between oral and overall health."

Dentists Frequently The First To Discover Eating Disorders

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Healthy and beautiful looking teeth have a dramatic effect on a person's attractiveness to others as well as on his or her own self-image and self-esteem. Studies have shown that appearance will have a strong effect on social and career success by influencing how a person is perceived.

According to the Institute of Dental Research and Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, 28% of bulimia cases are first diagnosed during dental exams. Yet in a study conducted by Old Dominion University, fewer than 33% of dentists and 43% of dental hygienists currently assess patients for eating disorders. Worse yet, fewer than 20% of dentists and 17% of dental hygienists refer these patients for treatment.

Yet many women (and men) who are desperate to attain the perfect image will destroy a beautiful smile, ruining their dental health while literally risking their own lives to be thin. A study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reported that 5% to 10% of anorexics die within 10 years of contracting the disease. Up to 20% will be dead within 20 years. For women ages 15 to 24 years old the death rate associated with anorexia is 12 times higher than the death rate of all other causes combined.

Starvation can cause major organs to shut down. A heart attack is one of the most common causes of death from those suffering with an eating disorder. People can die from eating disorders at any body weight. Since depression accompanies anorexia, suicide is also a risk factor. Approximately 25% of all anorexics attempt suicide, and about 50% of anorexic deaths result from suicide.

Observing these symptoms could reveal the effects of eating disorders on dental health:

• Erosion of teeth enamel by stomach acid brought into the mouth due to purging
• Accelerated tooth decay and gum disease
• Cracked and painful lips, tongue and gums
• Dry mouth and swollen salivary glands due to frequent vomiting
• Deterioration of bones and gums supporting the teeth due to lack of nutrition
• Bruised mouth and gums
• Infected nerves

Since the destruction of teeth and gums from anorexia and bulimia can start as early as three months after extreme dieting or “purging” (vomiting), dentists and dental hygienists may be the first health care providers to see the physical and oral effects of eating disorders.

San Diego-area dentist Howard Feffer, DDS says the effects of eating disorders on dental health are devastating. “The pain and discomfort of poor dental health can significantly add to the physical and emotional suffering of a person with an eating disorder,” said Dr. Feffer. “As medical professionals dedicated to the well-being of our patients, dentists need to watch for the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, and refer for treatment in programs like the one offered at Casa Palmera.”

“Dental health professionals can be valuable allies in the fight to identify and treat eating disorders,” says Dr. Terry V. Eagan, medical director and psychiatrist at Casa Palmera, a residential treatment center for eating disorders in Del Mar, California. “Early diagnosis, referrals and treatment can significantly increase the chances of recovery for people suffering from eating disorders. If we can raise awareness, we’ll get help to a greater number of people suffering from this devastating illness before it’s too late,” said Dr. Eagan.