When you hear the phrase “dental emergency,” you most likely picture a broken tooth or a throbbing toothache. While it’s true most emergency dental situations involve injury to teeth, you can also need emergency treatment for your cheeks, tongue, lips, and gums.
But how can you tell if your painful or damaged gums are a dental emergency? The best way to know for sure is to contact your Rockville emergency dentist by calling (301) 963-0800. That way, our treatment team can walk through what happened with you over the phone and determine how severe the extent of your injury is.
If you’re still left wondering, however, a general rule is that if your gums are bleeding significantly, extremely swollen, or so painful that they’re interfering with your daily routine, something worrisome is probably going on.
Bleeding Gums
Gums that lightly bleed when you brush or floss are not a dental emergency. Healthy gums do not bleed, which means that your dentist should examine your gums ASAP because you’re likely in the early stages of gum disease. A little blood or tenderness, however, does not indicate an emergency or dangerous condition.
You should schedule an emergency dental appointment only if your gums have a laceration or injury that’s causing them to bleed profusely, or if you’re unable to stop the bleeding by applying standard pressure using gauze or a clean rag.
Swollen or Painful Gums
Mildly swollen gums are also a textbook sign of gum disease, so if you notice gradual irritation around your gum line with no other symptoms, it’s best to call your Rockville dentist and schedule a visit for regular business hours.
If your gums are so swollen that you’re having trouble closing your mouth, smiling, chewing, or breathing, however, you likely have a dental abscess or other condition that needs emergency treatment.
Keep Your Gums Healthy and Avoid Dental Emergencies in Rockville
The health of your gums unavoidably affects the health of your teeth. To avoid gum disease and gum-related emergencies, you should visit your dentist every six months and floss your teeth every 24 hours. If you suspect you have a dental emergency involving your gums, don’t hesitate to call us at (301) 963-0800!
