Remedies for Emergency Dental Care

When you think of the words "emergency" and "dental" combined, you may conjure up images of late night "B" horror flicks, particularly ones in which the antagonist likes to pull teeth with a rusty pair of channel-locks. There is nothing I dread more than going to the dentist; for some reason I am always reminded of Orin Scrivello, a sadistic, nitrous oxide-addicted dentist played by Steve Martin in the movie, "Little Shop of Horrors." But if you truly have an emergency--an impacted wisdom tooth, perhaps--you may have no other choice than to face your fears and make an appointment. Orin Scrivello, as frightening as he may seem, is a fictitious character, after all, and most dentists are quite caring, gentle practitioners--and you won't find any rusty implements of torture in their offices. Emergency Dental Care/Chevy Chase, Maryland City Many people avoid dentists like the plague, but a real emergency may require seeing one. Perhaps, while sight-seeing in the historic Chevy Chase area, you've taken a tumble on Connecticut Avenue and busted the top plate of your expensive dentures, or worse, you've chipped or broken a tooth or two (which is hard to say when you're missing your top front teeth). You have an important business meeting in a few hours, your broken tooth is nowhere to be found, and, quite frankly, you're in a good deal of pain. Help is close by, however, and can be found readily with just a few keystrokes when searching the net for that emergency dentist. There are plenty in the D.C. and Maryland areas. Hopefully, the emergency you may be experiencing isn't so bad, though it may demand immediate attention. Maybe you woke up with painfully swollen gums. You rinse with antiseptic, but just five minutes later, you're still in pain. This may be simple inflammation, or a harbinger of Gingivitis, or worse, Pyria. As an avid fan of coffee and cigarettes, I've had this problem a couple times myself. A fairly inexpensive quick fix, I've found, is to mix a small amount of common Witch Hazel with mouth rinse or antiseptic. Witch Hazel is an astringent, which fights infections and reduces swelling. It may sting like hell momentarily--and do not swallow--but the burning sensation will soon become a cooling one. I've used this remedy a few times to avoid seeing the dentist. It's worked, but I only mention it in passing. However, if you're interested in home remedies for emergency dental care, here are a few suggestions: Saline/Salt water: Any dentist will recommend rinsing with salt water to fight bacteria and sooth pain.rnGarlic: Garlic is nature's equivalent to penicillin, and believe it or not, is heralded as an excellent pain killer. Slices of fresh garlic may be applied to a sore tooth or gums to fight infection and relieve pain.rnOnions: Not as strong as garlic, but may be applied in the same way. Clove Oil: Applied directly to the area, clove oil can sooth painful gums. Alcohol: Liquor is quicker; a tried and true (though temporary) cure for a toothache is a good, stiff drink.rnOf course, these are merely suggestions; they are old school remedies that may work in a pinch. Nothing beats regular flossing, brushing, and rinsing to avoid the dentist's chair, but these tips might come in handy while you're waiting to sit in one. But when it comes to someone's health, there is no better suggestion I can make than recommending a trip to the dentist, especially if your condition is serious. Odontophobia (fear of dentists) and home remedies aside, there is no reason to suffer. A trip to see the dentist should be a relatively painless and pleasant experience. Most emergency dentists will see you within an hour. And, as far as I know, there are no "Orin Scrivellos" practicing dentistry in the Chevy Chase area--as far as I know, that is.