When you think of dental emergencies, you probably picture an aching or broken tooth or restoration, inflamed gums, or a locked jaw. These are all common dental emergencies that can often be avoided with proper preventative care. Brushing and flossing twice daily and scheduling a checkup every 6 months strengthens your teeth and gums so they’re less likely to be harmed and require urgent attention.
Some unlucky patients, however, have experienced strange circumstances that landed them in the dentist’s chair. These 3 weird emergencies could motivate you to pay more attention to your oral well-being so that you aren’t exposed to a similar situation. Keep reading to learn more!
Emergency #1: Garden Gaffe
When you were a child, did you ever wonder whether eating certain seeded fruits like apples or watermelon could cause them to sprout in your stomach? Now that you’re grown, you know better and would laugh if someone suggested that your body was growing plants. There is at least one person, however, who wouldn’t find the idea so amusing.
This individual was suffering from a persistent toothache as well as pain in their gums. They made an appointment with their dentist who recommended a root canal. During the procedure, it was discovered that tomato seeds had lodged deep in their gums and shoots were growing out of a cavity in their tooth. Yikes!
Emergency #2: Sticky Situation
Many patients wonder if their lost or broken restoration counts as a dental emergency. While you may not have sustained an injury, you should always contact your dentist right away to let them know. You might be tempted to try to fix it on your own, but doing so can have disastrous results.
For example, one woman who lost her dental crown attempted to reattach it with super glue. This was a mistake for several reasons. Firstly, superglue isn’t intended for oral use and can be toxic. On top of that, she ended up gluing the wrong teeth together and the sticky substance coated her mouth and throat. If you ever find yourself with a loose, dislodged, or injured restoration learn from her mistake and go to your dentist rather than attempt to fix it yourself.
Emergency #3: Wormy Ways
It’s often mistakenly believed that parents don’t need to be concerned about their child’s dental well-being until they have a full mouth of teeth. Unfortunately, still-growing smiles can develop issues that impact their pearly whites even before they’ve arrived.
Two caregivers learned this the hard way when their small child began to complain of severe pain in his mouth. They noticed that he also had incredibly swollen gums, so they took him in for his first-ever dental appointment. The dentist soon realized that he had maggots in his gums that had begun to thrive- gross! There may not be a better motivation than that to ensure everyone in your household regularly cleans their mouth.
It’s natural to feel horrified by such dastardly dental disasters. Thankfully, if you practice a consistent at-home dental hygiene routine and maintain routine dental visits, then you should have nothing to worry about!
About the Practice
At Plush Dentistry, you and your entire family benefit from the expertise of two dentists who provide a wide array of services under one roof, including emergency dentistry. They combine advanced dental technology with comfortable amenities to enhance patient comfort while providing top-quality treatments. You’re sure to feel well-cared for in a massage chair in your private suite with noise-canceling headphones during your appointment. They know that dental emergencies can happen anytime so they offer same-day visits as well as extended weekend hours, so you don’t have to wait for relief. If you’re in an urgent situation and need help, you’re welcome to request an appointment on the website or by calling (469) 256-7098.