Some dental emergencies are inevitable. In many cases, however, such situations occur because an individual made a mistake that left their teeth vulnerable to damage. We want to help you avoid taking such missteps. On this page, you will discover some practice advice that you can apply every day in order to greatly reduce your risk of suffering from a dental emergency. If you have questions about what you read, we invite you to reach out to our team.
A thorough dental care routine establishes the foundation for a lifetime of oral health. You should brush thoroughly twice a day, floss once a day, and drink plenty of water. Many patients find that using a mouthwash is also helpful for combating oral bacteria.
It is also vital that you attend regular checkups with your dentist. At these appointments, your dentist has the opportunity to spot any developing oral health problems before they worsen to the point where they could cause a dental emergency. They can also coach you on how best to care for your teeth at home. Most people should visit their dentist every six months, but if you have gum disease or other ongoing oral health concerns, more frequent appointments may be in order.
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but it is far from invincible. It is vulnerable to breakage if it is exposed to too much force. That is why you should not use your teeth to bite down on anything extremely hard. Ice, jawbreaker candies, and unpopped popcorn kernels are just a few of the things you should do your best not to bite down on. You should also resist the temptation to use your teeth to bite on inanimate objects, such as pens and pencils.
Everyone who plays sports should invest in a custom mouthguard, even if your activity of choice is considered to be a “non-contact” sport. Your mouthguard will reduce the risk of injury to your teeth, gums, and other tissues in your mouth. Custom mouthguards have even been shown to reduce the risk of concussion.
If you often wake up with a sore jaw, you may be grinding your teeth while you sleep. Over time, that grinding can wear away at your enamel and possibly lead to a dental emergency. Putting a preventive nightguard in your mouth every evening before you go to sleep places a barrier between your teeth and stop them from harming one another.
Many people use their teeth to tear open packages or to remove tape from boxes. Doing so is unwise because it exposes your teeth to more force than they are designed to handle. You could easily end up breaking one. Try to carry a small multi-tool with you so you can use it to open packages instead of your teeth.
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