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Our medical and dental history, as well as our lifestyle choices, all can leave us more at risk of dental emergencies as we age. Here, our Clarenville dentists explain who’s most at risk for a dental emergency, and what you can do to mitigate it.
Who is most at risk for a dental emergency?
All throughout our lives, we face different challenges that leave us at risk for developing a dental emergency. The truth is, dental emergencies can happen at any time and will have different causes. The following are a few of the most common causes for dental emergencies in adults, children and seniors.
Children
Children will often lead active lifestyles that see them being physically active but also facing possible hazards like injuries. They will also need to keep an eye on the number of sugary snacks they each, since sugar contributed to tooth decay and early cavities.
Injuries to a child's teeth caused by blows to their mouth during physical activities can be prevented or minimized by wearing a custom-made sports mouthguard.
From the time their first tooth erupts through the gumline, children need to see their dentist regularly and practice a great at-home oral hygiene routine to ensure their teeth develop properly. This will help them build a solid foundation for oral health throughout their lives.
Adults
As we age, our teeth can become discoloured and we can experience decay. That’s why a rigorous at-home oral care routine and regularly scheduled dental appointments are critical to maintaining oral health and keeping cavities, gum disease and other conditions at bay.
Between the ages of 17 and 25, wisdom teeth may also erupt, potentially resulting in a dental emergency if they cause severe tooth pain. Infections in our teeth can also lead to pain and discomfort, and result in urgent visits to the dentist.
Most of these emergencies can be minimized or even prevented altogether by seeing a dentist regularly so that they can track your oral health and any conditions that may require treatment. As always, you can help strengthen you smile against dental emergencies by remembering to brush and floss every day.
Seniors
By the time we reach our golden years, we’ve had a lot of life experience – but also many opportunities for our oral health to decline. After a lifetime of use, our teeth can endure wear and tear.
Tooth grinding may be the result of jaw pain or TMJ DIsorder (TMD) or gum disease that advances to the point that gums start to recede. This may leave the roots of the tooth exposed and cause painful infections or conditions that may result in dental emergencies requiring our dentist's immediate attention.
Many seniors will also need dental implants to deal with certain or conditions or sudden dental emergencies or issues that come up.
No matter your age, your dentist will be able to assess your oral health and provide a dental risk assessment, taking into account your lifestyle and the circumstances that may factor into your overall risk of experiencing a dental emergency.