Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland, Australia. It is also the country’s third most populous city behind Sydney and Melbourne. Brisbane is also considered a river city because of the Brisbane River that cuts across the city center. Destination-wise, Brisbane is not as popular as its two sister cities; however, Brisbane is a promising city and is considered the hippest city among the three. Likewise, Brisbane is beginning to be a food mecca, with many new food establishments popping up to rival Sydney and Melbourne.
If you are a certified foodie, you will enjoy what Brisbane has to offer. However, when you eat a lot, you have to consider how different food groups can affect your teeth’ health. It is important to maintain good mouth hygiene to not build up in your mouth and destroy your teeth. When this happens, you may feel some discomfort in your mouth and may eventually need to seek the services of a dentist in Brisbane. Likewise, hard foods may cause your teeth to crack or break. When this happens, it is important to have it fixed by a dentist to prevent losing that tooth.
What to Do When You Have a Broken Tooth
Fortunately, you can easily find a dentist in Brisbane among the various dentists in the city. Some clinics are even open 24/7 to accommodate emergencies. Treatment of broken teeth will depend on the severity of the damage. Some cases do not need to be treated immediately. Here is what you need to do if you have a broken tooth.
Set an Appointment
When you crack your tooth, the pain and discomfort you will feel will depend on the severity of the damage. If the damage is superficial and does not go beyond the hard tissues composed of enamel, dentin, and cementum, then you may feel little or no pain at all. You may set an appointment with a dentist in Brisbane at the earliest free slot possible. However, when the damage reaches the pulp where the nerves and blood vessels are located, the damage may cause you to suffer mild to severe pain. You may call for emergency dental services if the pain is severe; however, most dentists will not work on a tooth with swelling gums. Your dentist may provide you with treatment to address the swelling and the pain, but the dentist will not work on your tooth unless the swelling subsides. Once this has occurred, you can seek treatment. Depending upon how bad it is, you may get a simple cosmetic touch up or something more in-depth like Invisalign
Self-treatment
Do not try to fix your broken tooth yourself. While waiting for your dental appointment, you can apply self-treatment for your damaged tooth by doing the following:
- Disinfect the inside of your mouth by gargling and rinsing with salt water (not seawater). You may prepare this solution by dissolving a teaspoon of salt in a glass of pure water.
- Take nonprescription pain relievers such as acetaminophen or other similar drugs.
- Avoid putting pressure on the damaged tooth. When you need to eat, do not chew or bite with the damaged tooth. If possible, eat soft foods or prepare a liquid diet until a Dentist Brisbane fixes your tooth.
- If your broken tooth has left a sharp edge, cover it with chewing gum to prevent the edge from injuring your tongue and gums.
Keep Your Dental Appointment
When it is time for your appointment, drop everything so you can keep it. When you prolong the treatment of a broken tooth, the tooth and its surrounding areas may be susceptible to bacterial infection, which may cause more serious problems in the future. Likewise, the clinic of a dentist in Brisbane would mostly be fully-booked, and you may not get another appointment if you miss yours.
