So how can we define the difference between a major or minor dental emergency in the city ofLeeds? It’s a very important to distinguish when you are in serious trouble or whether or not you can ride out a minor issue until you can get to see your dentist and besides that, it might be wise to have a good talk with them and prepare yourself well before hand so that if a problem does crop up, you are in a very good position to cope with it. Preparing involves stocking up the medicine cupboard with a few bits and pieces. Painkillers are always handy to have around anyway and this should generally be enough in a minor crisis’ such as a toothache. You will normally have salt lying around somewhere which, when added to warm water, is great for treating lacerations of the gums caused by chipped teeth, a lost veneer or weeping/bleeding gums. Herbal remedies such as clove oil and tea tree oil are wonderful for soothing aching teeth or especially when you are about to have a wisdom tooth break through the gums. Once you are aware of the nature of these emergencies, you won’t be bothering your dentists or doctor during the night. But it is also important to know who to call when a real emergency arises. Losing a tooth can be dramatic and cause trauma to the mouth and needs to be attended to as quickly as possible, but not as quick as an abscess needs attending to- this can be lethal as, as soon as it erupts, it will start to poison the blood very quickly and can get out of hand very fast. This is where you shouldn’t be afraid to get yourself to hospital as soon as you can.