How to prevent a dental emergency?
HOW TO PREVENT A DENTAL EMERGENCY?
PROTECTING SMILES
FROM POSSIBLE DAMAGE
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could avoid a dental emergency? Whether sudden sensitivity results in a bothersome toothache, tripping over your feet and chipping a tooth, or biting into your favorite food only to lose a dental crown or filling, you can avoid these situations as long as you follow a few tips. At Whitewood Dental, our team of professionals wants to help you bypass the potential for an emergency dental visit and instead continue enjoying time spent doing what you love. To help you avoid an untimely trip to the dentist’s office, here are a few ways you can prevent dental emergencies.
Safeguard Your Smile with Added Protection
Do you enjoy playing sports? Are you prone to grinding your teeth during the night? The most effective way to safeguard your smile is to wear a custom-made mouthguard while playing sports and while you're asleep. These oral devices will protect against hard-hitting tackles, foul balls, and even a sudden fall while running. If sports aren't of interest to you, a nightguard helps you keep your teeth from touching throughout the night and minimize the potential for excessive wear and tear on your pearly whites while you sleep.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
One of the most effective ways to avoid a dental emergency is to keep your regular dental appointments and practice good oral hygiene at home. Seeing your dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups will ensure your smile remains in optimal shape and free of tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. Not only will we check for signs of these common dental problems, but early detection is key to combatting the harmful effects of oral cancer.
But you’ll also need to do your part while at home and continue to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes, floss at least once a day, and rinse using an antimicrobial mouthwash.
Be Mindful of What You Eat
Hard, crunchy foods might taste delicious, but if you want to keep your pearly whites fully intact and free of damage, you’ll consider avoiding these at all costs. Nuts, ice, peanut brittle, and even potato chips can cause small fractures, chips, or complete breaks in your teeth. Not to mention, if you are consuming foods and beverages that contain lots of sugar and acid, they can break down your tooth enamel, making your smile more susceptible to breakage, staining, and tooth decay. Apart from food items, it would help if you also remembered to avoid chewing on inanimate objects like pens and pencils and never use your teeth as tools to open containers and packages.
