Your Clarenville Invisalign® Provider
We all dread the idea of experiencing a dental emergency and the discomfort, uncertainty and inconvenience involved with it. There is good news though. We can take steps to avoid them. Today, our Clarenville dentists offer some advice on how to do so.
What is a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is any dental problem that requires immediate attention from a dentist. This can include:
- Lost crowns or fillings
- Cuts to the lip or tongue
- Knocked out, chipped or broken teeth
- Severe or persistent toothache that can’t be addressed with over-the-counter pain medications
- Severe swelling on your face or in your mouth
Any of these can cause pain, discomfort or damage to your teeth that needs to be treated quickly by a dentist.
How can I avoid dental emergencies?
After explaining the basics of what may be considered a dental emergency, it's time to address how you can avoid having one in the first place! While dental emergencies may be caused by a wide variety of health issues, injuries, or conditions despite our best efforts, it's possible to take precautions in order to reduce the risk of injuring your teeth, gums or jaw.
Use your teeth for chewing food only.
Many of us use our teeth to open packages, bite fingernails and do things other than chewing food. But this is an easy way to chip or injure them, as you expose your teeth to harm along with your inner cheeks, lips and gums.
Take some extra time to find some appropriate tools like scissors and save your teeth for chewing food.
Wear a sports mouthguard.
Do you participate in sports or any high-impact, physically strenuous activities? Though these are great for getting your blood pumping and staying physically active, they can also present a hazard as you’re at risk for impacts to the head, face or neck.
These blows can easily result in significant injuries that can lead to dental emergencies. In order to avoid these scenarios, always wear a custom-made mouthguard to protect your teeth and mouth against any injury.
Cut back on sugary foods.
We all love snacks and a late afternoon sugar hit can be very tempting. However, sugar results in plaque and bacteria buildup that leads to tooth decay, cavities, wear on our teeth and gum disease that can lead to dental emergencies. Hard candy, popcorn kernels and other foods can also present a hazard.
Next time you’re at the grocery store, stock up on crunchy vegetables such as carrots to snack on and healthier soft foods such as yogurt. After a few weeks of avoiding the hard, chewy sugary foods, you’ll hardly notice their absence from your diet - and your teeth will thank you.
Maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine at home.
Part of avoiding dental emergencies involves the preparation and day-to-day maintenance of your smile. Dental emergencies may occur as a result of gradual tooth decay or painful cavities.
Maintaining a rigorous oral hygiene routine can reduce the chances of these. Remember to brush twice daily for two minutes each time and floss at least once per day.
Visit your dentist regularly.
Along with maintaining an oral hygiene routine, regular visits to the dentist for hygiene cleanings and exams are a must. They not only clean your teeth with professional grade tools, but can also detect any issues with your teeth early on, helping you avoid dental emergencies.