This year has been all sorts of weird and eventful and unforgettable. While most like to skip over to 2021, a few of us want to celebrate the end of the year. It’s the holidays, after all. And although it pains us not to see our loved ones this season, it is no reason not to celebrate it with good food, virtual parties, and time with your family (those who live in the same house as you, of course). The last thing in our minds is any medical or dental emergency that can happen over the holidays.
But that is the thing about emergencies. It doesn’t warn you, right? So, when you find yourself amid a dental emergency, what are you going to do? The holidays tend to exacerbate some dental problems. The food that you serve on the table might be the culprit. If you already feel like your wisdom teeth are about to fall off, then it’s best not to stuff yourself with cupcakes and chocolates. But yes, how agonizing that must be for you.
Get Your Teeth Checked Regularly
No matter the time of the year, dental problems are the worst. There’s nothing like not being able to eat on Christmas Eve because you’ve had a wisdom teeth removal. You have to stay clear of solid food for 48 hours, which means you can’t even sample the leftovers on Christmas morning. What a tragedy. If you’ve ever had this experience, you should know by now that getting your teeth checked regularly will prevent this.
If you know in November that you have a dental problem, wouldn’t you have addressed that already? Then, your gums and teeth will have healed by the holiday season. Preventive dental care is always the most practical thing to do.
Call an Emergency Dentist
Most dentists might have to take some off days this holiday, but that doesn’t mean there’s no one available for you. Call an emergency dentist or someone whose clinic is nearer your house. It’s better to deal with a toothache immediately than let the problem exacerbate while waiting for your dentist to come back from a vacation. If that is not possible, do a virtual consultation instead. The dentist can suggest remedies for your toothache.
Try Home Remedies
A dentist will always be available for emergencies. However, if you want to remedy the pain, take over-the-counter pain medication like Advil. This will not solve the problem, but it will dull the pain for a while. This will at least tide you over until you can see a dentist.
You can also try some popular home remedies such as gargling warm salt water and holding whole dried cloves against the tooth. You can also try flossing the area because if a piece of food is stuck there, that will cause pain. If there’s blood or pus, don’t do anything and go straight to the emergency room.
Avoid Sugary Foods and Beverages
You can nibble on a piece of cookie, but eating the whole jar is just unhealthy. Sugary treats can lead to tooth decay, though it’s not the actual sugar that causes you pain. Beneficial bacteria live in your mouth, but some of that bacteria will feed on sugar and transform it into acid. It is that acid that turns into a bacterial infection that can cause a hole in your teeth’s enamel.
To avoid this from happening, you have to stick with your healthy choices. You can treat yourself to a slice of the pecan pie, but make sure you also nibble on some carrot sticks. Don’t overdo desserts.
The holidays are all about enjoying your time with family, even in these uncertain times. Don’t let a dental problem affect your ability to celebrate this year’s end. After all, don’t you feel like the world has to send 2020 off with a bang?
