Dental injuries can occur when you least expect them. Whether it is while on a walk with friends or preparing to enjoy a meal with family, a sudden sharp pain or accidental fall can have you making your way toward your dentist’s office for help. But what if there were things you could do to safeguard your pearly whites? There is! If you want to learn how to prevent a dental emergency, here are three tips to help.
Wear a Fitted Athletic Mouthguard
Whether it is you or your child who enjoys playing sports, having a custom-made athletic mouthguard is essential.
Sports-related injuries account for many of the most frequent dental emergencies that dentists see. While the head, shoulders, knees, feet, and even hands are protected with effective gear, the mouth is often forgotten about.
With the help of a trusted dentist who can take impressions of your mouth, a fitted and comfortable oral device can be crafted so that you wear it the entire game, reducing your risk of a broken, chipped, or knocked-out tooth.
Change Your Diet
You may not like the idea of giving up some of your favorite sugary and starchy snacks, but if you want to lower your chances of visiting the emergency dentist this year, you’ll need to make a change to your diet.
Healthy, calcium-rich foods that are filled with vitamins and minerals can help to safeguard gum tissues and tooth enamel. This can include everything from dairy products (i.e., yogurt, milk, cheese) to leafy greens (i.e., kale, spinach, lettuce) to fresh fruits and vegetables and even lean meats like turkey, fish, etc.
Too much sugar and starch are directly linked to cavities and tooth decay because of how easy it is for bacteria to feed on them. Over time, plaque and tartar begin to form, breaking down tooth enamel and causing dental caries to form. Without timely treatment, more serious damage can occur, resulting in an infection and/or complex treatments like root canals or tooth extractions.
Swap Out Your Toothbrush
This one might not seem like something that would lead to a dental emergency, but the truth is that continuing to use your toothbrush for more than 3 or 4 months can put your smile at major risk.
Viruses can easily live on the bristles of a toothbrush. If not thrown away after illness, you can become reinfected, making it difficult for your body to recover. Your teeth and gums will also suffer because of the challenges many patients face when sick (i.e., lack of desire to brush teeth or practice any kind of oral hygiene, taking medicines that contain sugar, etc.).
Switching out your toothbrush with a new one after being sick or after 3-4 months of use will ensure that your mouth remains healthier year-round.
Don’t spend your time visiting your emergency dentist when you could be enjoying it with family and friends. Take the necessary steps to protect your smile and your oral health this year.
About Grand Dental – Naperville
At Grand Dental – Naperville, a dental emergency cannot always be prevented. However, some instances can be minimized if proper steps are taken. Visit our website or call us at (630) 576-9970 to learn how we can help you reduce the chances of seeing our emergency dentist this year.