5 Tips for Avoiding a Dental Emergency

There is a range of situations that can lead to a dental emergency. Getting hit in the face when playing contact sports or biting down on something that chips or breaks a tooth are a few common causes. Experiencing a dental emergency is never a fun situation. Though some situations aren’t always easy to avoid, others are. Read on to learn five useful tips that will help you avoid emergency dental visits.

Tip #1: Brush Regularly

Though many people know how important it is to brush their teeth once in the morning and once at night, 22% of people still go three days without brushing at all. This sharply raises one’s risk of developing cavities. Untreated cavities can develop into severe tooth decay, which may need a root canal to be treated. Though root canals are virtually painless, it’s best to brush your teeth twice per day for two minutes to avoid this.

Tip #2: Floss Often

Brushing alone isn’t enough to keep dental health issues at bay. You also need to floss between your pearly whites every day. Neglecting to do so will allow approximately 40% of the plaque on your smile to remain there and do some serious damage to your pearly whites. Flossing every night after your last meal of the day will lessen your risk of cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.

Tip #3: Limit Your Sugar Intake

The oral bacteria that cause cavities feed off of sugar in the foods we eat and the beverages we drink. To lessen your risk, make sure to limit how much sugar you consume. The same goes for high-carb foods like bread, which break down into sugar in the mouth and can damage your smile in the same way.

Tip #4: Wear a Mouthguard

As previously mentioned, taking a blow to the face while playing sports can lead to dental damage. If you play hockey, soccer, football, or any other contact sports, make sure to wear a mouthguard. This will protect your teeth and the rest of your oral structures from breaking and other forms of damaged. You can purchase a mouthguard over the counter or speak to your dentist about having one custom-made.

Tip #5: Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water can help keep your body healthy, and that includes your smile. Dry mouth is an oral health condition that occurs when you aren’t producing enough saliva. Since your saliva helps wash away harmful oral bacteria and food particles, having dry mouth raises your chances of tooth decay and gum disease. Be sure to drink plenty of water to prevent this. You can also chew sugar-free gum, suck on sugarless hard candy, and eat fruits and veggies with a high water content.

Not taking good care of your smile raises your risk of having a dental emergency. With the above tips, you can prevent unplanned dental visits and keep your pearly whites healthy, happy, and bright!

About the Author

Dr. J. Lee Pettigrew is a skilled Southlake-based dentist who leads a talented team of Texas oral health professionals. They take pride in offering patients exceptional dental health services, such as checkups, cleaning, restorative procedures, and cosmetic treatments. They also offer emergency dental procedures for patients so they can get their smiles back on track. Call Dr. Pettigrew’s office at (817) 481-4888 or visit their website to learn more about their treatment options or to schedule a consultation.