Toothaches can be unbearable, and when faced with the prospect of a costly or delayed dental appointment, you may find yourself feeling desperate. You might even wonder whether you can pull your tooth at home. While it might seem simple, attempting tooth extraction at home is incredibly dangerous and can lead to serious complications.
If you’re considering attempting an at-home tooth extraction, keep reading to learn why that may do more harm than good.
Signs Your Tooth Needs To Be Pulled
If you are experiencing severe tooth pain or discomfort, it might be a sign that your tooth needs to be pulled. One of the most common reasons why you may need extraction is because of advanced tooth decay or infection that a filling or root canal cannot address. Advanced gum disease can also weaken the bone supporting your tooth, making removal essential.
If you crack or break your tooth in an accident, you may need to pull the tooth to prevent further complications. Additionally, overcrowding or impacted teeth, such as wisdom teeth that don’t fully emerge, may require extraction to protect your oral health. If you notice any of these signs, tooth extraction may be on the horizon.
Is It Safe to Pull Your Teeth?
While you technically can pull your teeth, at-home tooth extraction is never a good idea. There are many potential reasons why you may need this extraction, which you cannot identify or address when performing this service at home. Extracting your tooth without training or professional tools can result in the need for more expensive dental work.
If you believe you may need a tooth extraction, it is best to reach out to a team of trusted dental professionals for support. Even if you have to wait a few days or weeks for your extraction, this is always your safest option. With their support and expertise, you can safely remove your tooth without damaging delicate tissue and identify potential dental problems.
The Risk of At-Home Tooth Extraction
Although your mouth heals quickly, attempting at-home dental care can be unsafe. The tissue in your mouth is incredibly delicate, and choosing to pull your teeth at home presents several serious risks, including:
Broken Teeth
Attempting an at-home tooth extraction can cause the tooth to break off before the root is removed. This removal can potentially damage the surrounding teeth. Not only is this detrimental to your smile, but it can cause significant and expensive dental problems down the line.
Infection
There is a good chance that you’re losing your tooth due to an infection. What happens when you pull that tooth? You are left with an infection and an open wound. This isn’t the best combination. Your dentist takes the steps necessary to remedy the infection and provides antibiotics to prevent the open wound from becoming infected.
Dry Socket
If you pull your tooth improperly, this may potentially disrupt the formation of blood clots. These clots aid healing and protect your nerves and bones from exposure to the bacteria in your mouth. Without proper dental care, this clot may not form, leading to dry socket and a risk of further oral infection and irritation.
Nerve Damage
The roots of your teeth are incredibly close to the nerves in your mouth. When you pull a tooth at home, you risk damaging the nerves beneath that tooth and neighboring teeth. The damage caused by your home tooth extraction can lead to chronic discomfort, tingling, and difficulty moving your tongue and lips.
Gum Recession
After a tooth extraction, your dentist performs a bone graft to fill the socket and minimize gum loss. However, when you perform this procedure on your own, there is no way to fill the socket. As your mouth adjusts to tooth loss, you may notice signs of gum recession, which puts you at risk of further jawbone loss.
How to Alleviate Pain Before a Tooth Extraction
If you believe you need a tooth extraction, you may be tempted to pull it on your own. But, as mentioned above, this is far too risky a procedure to attempt without proper training, tools, and experience. Instead of attempting to pull your teeth, it is best to attempt to alleviate your discomfort while waiting for a dental appointment. The best way to do this includes:
- Swish with warm salt water two to three times a day.
- Take over-the-counter pain medications to address inflammation.
- Apply a cold compress or ice to affected areas.
- Consider a hydrogen peroxide rinse with equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide.
Managing your discomfort before your tooth extraction is essential, but it is important that you don’t disregard essential dental hygiene. You should continue to brush and floss to protect your teeth from additional damage. Remember to gently brush around the affected tooth to avoid further irritation and inflammation.
If you’re experiencing extreme pain, you may want to consider contacting your dentist to schedule an emergency dental appointment. This can help you protect your other teeth and avoid even further complications like sepsis.
Your Trusted Extraction Expert in Mills River
While dental work can be expensive, attempting to remedy the situation on your own may be far more costly. Many dentists offer payment plans for tooth extraction that allow you to get the work you need done immediately without hurting your wallet. If you’re looking for a reliable dentist in the Mills River, NC, area, turn to our team at Mills River Family Dental for support.
With our compassionate approach to dental care, you can trust that we’ll handle your case with sensitivity, expertise, and a commitment to your comfort and well-being. No matter what oral ailment is plaguing your smile, you can trust that we’ll help you get on the path to recovery, protecting your smile every step of the way.
If you’d like to speak to a member of our team about tooth extraction or have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
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