5 Ways to Prevent Dental Emergencies

5 Ways to Prevent Dental Emergencies

People need to understand that to have a healthy set of teeth and gums, you’ll need to have good dental hygiene practices. If you haven’t been brushing your teeth after meals or you skip flossing, you will likely have a dental emergency.

What is considered a dental emergency? Among some of the common dental emergencies are toothache, chipped tooth, loose tooth, abscess, etc.

If you have experienced one of these dental emergencies at some point in your life, you know how much pain and discomfort comes with it. Sure, you can take pain relievers, but you’ll have to pay your dentist an emergency visit. If you want to avoid this scenario, the key is to become more knowledgeable about how you can take better care of your dental health.

What is Considered a Dental Emergency?

It is important to know if your dental problem requires an immediate visit to the dentist. One of the common characteristics of a dental emergency is that it already affects the quality of your life. Some of the characteristics of a dental emergency are trauma to your facial bone, severe pain, and unmanageable bleeding. Here are some of the common situations that will require emergency dental care:

  • Injuries that affect your gums
  • Lost or broken fillings
  • Chipped or broken tooth
  • Toothache
  • Broken orthodontics
  • Lost or broken crowns

When you’re suffering from serious dental issues, call your go-to dentist or pay a quick visit to the emergency room. You should go to the hospital if the incident involves jaw fractures, jaw dislocations, severe lacerations and cuts to your mouth or face, and infections affecting your ability to breathe or swallow.

What Are Ways to Prevent a Dental Emergency?

It is possible to stay on top of your dental health and prevent dental emergencies from happening. Here are different ways to do it:

1. Monitor any dental pain or changes in your mouth, teeth, and gums.

Before a dental situation becomes an emergency, there are signs that you might see or feel. If you’re experiencing tooth pain that comes and goes or if there are unusual changes to your mouth, teeth, and gums, seeing your dentist should be a priority.

Shrugging it off will only make the problem worse, and before you know it, you’re on an urgent trip to the dentist’s office. Your dentist will diagnose and conduct the necessary course of treatment. If it is something serious, your dentist will refer you to other health professionals.

2. Practice good dental habits.

Your dental health lies in the simple acts of brushing and flossing your teeth every day. It is best to brush your teeth once you get up and at night before you go to bed. Dentists suggest that you brush your teeth for two minutes.

This is enough time to brush every part of your mouth, including your tongue. It would also be best to invest in soft-bristled toothbrushes or electric ones. Electric toothbrushes come with timers. However, if you don’t have a budget for that, a manual toothbrush will do just fine. You can just use your mobile phone’s app as a timer.

3. Replace your toothbrush.

You might think that there’s no need to replace your toothbrush, especially if it looks just fine. However, it is essential for your overall dental health. Dentists recommend that you have your toothbrush replaced every two to three months or once it looks worn out and frayed. Once your toothbrush is frayed, it will not be able to clean your teeth as intended. Don’t let your dental health suffer. Buy a new toothbrush or have spare ones in your cabinet.

4. Watch what you eat.

Frequent snacking causes the production of acid in your mouth to increase. These acids will attack your teeth’ enamel and will result in small holes known as cavities. When you have cavities, you will be more susceptible to tooth decay.

You don’t have to completely eliminate sugary foods. What you can do is to eat them in controlled amounts. You can also watch the amounts you consume to minimize the acid production in your mouth.

5. Visit the dentist regularly.

According to the American Dental Association, visiting a dentist every six months should be standard practice. When you schedule an appointment with the dentist, you’ll undergo a routine dental exam and dental cleaning.

This will prevent dental emergencies such as toothaches and gum diseases from developing. Your dentist will also check for signs of oral cancer and other health conditions that may affect not only your dental health but the rest of your body.

Where to Go For a Dental Emergency?

Now that you know what constitutes a dental emergency and you know the ways to prevent it from happening, all there’s left to do is to find a dentist in Treasure Island, FL, that caters to routine dental checkups and emergency dental services. Century Dental is here to provide the help you need. Call us today and take charge of your overall dental health.

Dr. Abdullah M. Allawnha

Dr. Abdullah M. Allawnha

Dr. Allawnha, born in New Orleans and raised in Windsor, Canada, earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Windsor. He worked as an ER nurse in Detroit, Michigan, before moving to Morgantown, West Virginia, to become a dentist. He completed his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from West Virginia University School of Dentistry while still working as a nurse until he graduated.

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