Dental emergencies are some of the most painful and difficult situations to deal with during one’s lifetime. For this very reason, it’s essential that an individual stays prepared and takes all the precautionary measures to better deal with them.

This includes knowing how to cope with dental trauma and also knowing which emergency dental clinics to contact in case of a cracked or painful tooth. With that said, let’s take a look at ways in which you can avoid dental emergencies. But, before that, let’s take a look at the reasons why dental care/hygiene is paramount.

Reasons to Take Care of Your Oral Health

Gum Disease – With age, gums tend to naturally recede exposing the surface and root of teeth to bacteria. As a result, you may develop gum diseases like infections, gingivitis, cavities, periodontitis, and tooth decay. Regular flossing, brushing, using non-alcoholic flourish mouth cleanse, and dental checkups can slow down the pace of decay and keep gum diseases at bay.

Dry Mouth – Some medications can reduce saliva production and can cause dry mouth. You need saliva to keep the mouth moist. Saliva also washes the tooth surface and regularly moves food particles which can cause tooth decay. Good habits like drinking enough water, chewing sugar-free gums, and cutting down on caffeine and alcohol can prevent issues caused by dry mouth.

Tooth Decay – Although modern dentistry is quite advanced, it can never give you the exact replica of your natural teeth. It cannot reverse the gum loss/recession and tooth decay or prevent periodontitis which is a severe gum disease. Sure, you can use dental implants, graftings, and crowns to restore your smile but, it won’t be the same as your natural teeth. For this reason, you must look after your oral health and hygiene.

Heart Diseases – Studies are now telling us that there’s a close relationship between oral health and heart disease. Ignoring your dental hygiene could expose you to a life-threatening heart condition. When all else fails, safeguarding your heart health is a pretty good reason to take care of your teeth.

Bad Breath – Bad breath is one of the biggest turn-offs. Not only is it embarrassing to have bad breath, but this condition can also affect your stomach health. 

Ways to Avoid a Dental Emergency:

Floss Your Teeth Regularly

One of the commonest causes of toothache is poor brushing and flossing practices. Both of these are super important for ensuring oral hygiene and preventing toothaches. Plaque and food particles often build up in difficult and hard to reach places that a brush is often not able to access. 

Flossing reaches those tough spots so you can rid your teeth of pain and disease-causing bacteria. Therefore, it’s a good practice to floss (something which is often forgotten) your teeth and gum lines for effective and long-lasting results.

Practice Good Dental Hygiene

When you think of dental emergencies you may only think of breaking/cracking your tooth. But, most dental emergencies often stem from neglecting basic dental care. This includes emergencies related to the painful tooth, decay, and dental cavities. Most of these conditions are preventable solely by practicing good oral hygiene. Most doctors, especially a pediatric dentist would recommend flossing and brushing twice a day; especially after meals.

Change Your Toothbrush Regularly

Ideally, you should replace your toothbrush as soon as it starts to show signs of wear and tear like frayed bristles. Usually, this happens around the third month of usage. You must change the heads of electronic toothbrushes as well that come with disposable/changeable heads. Replacing the old one with a new brush ensures that the bristles remain optimally working and remove harmful plaque buildup and bacteria from difficult places.

Use a Mouth Guard

If you are someone who’s into sports like football, make sure to regularly wear a mouthguard. This is particularly important for kids and children who participate in physical activities and sports at school. Children tend to be careless and less cautious, therefore, more prone to accidents. One wrong move or fall could severely knock your tooth which can be pretty difficult to replace. You can even get a custom mouthguard from your dentist.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

While this one may sound like a no-brainer, it’s amazing how many people ignore it. Regular check-ups allow dentists to detect problems in the early stages before they turn into dental emergencies. 

Typically your dentist would run examinations once a year. But, it’s best to work out a check-up schedule and stick with it. Based on your personal goals, he/she may offer the best recommendations. People with certain health conditions or pre-existing gum diseases may require more frequent check-ups than others.

Bottom Line 

There’s more to dental health than meets the eye. If you’re unsure about any aspect of oral hygiene, it’s usually best to work with a dentist. If neglected, oral health problems can turn into serious conditions and may even cause heart disease. By taking care of basic hygiene practices, you can enjoy long-term oral health.


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