While it’s safe to say that nobody wants to experience a dental emergency, many people neglect to take the proper precautions to prevent these unpleasant events. This is unfortunate because most dental emergencies can be avoided with excellent oral hygiene and a few other smart habits. Here’s a breakdown of four excellent practices to adopt so your smile won’t have to suffer unnecessary oral health disasters that require professional treatment.
Practice Proper Dental Hygiene
Your daily oral hygiene routine is your first line of defense against bad breath, dental discoloration, and nasty oral infections. Everybody should gently brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed, to eliminate plaque and food debris from the surface of the teeth, gums, tongue, and cheeks.
It’s equally important to floss daily to eliminate food residue from between the teeth where a brush cannot reach. Afterward, rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash is a great way to kill remaining germs and freshen your breath.
Wear a Mouthguard
Dentists are used to seeing athletes coming into their offices with dental emergencies. Fortunately, you can protect your smile while playing sports or riding a bike by wearing a mouthguard to cushion your teeth against falls and blows. While you can find a fair enough one-size-fits-all protective appliance at your local athletics store, your dentist can provide you with a customized mouthguard that gives your smile the finest protection available.
See Your Dentist Regularly
While many people may think they only need to see a dentist when their teeth hurt, this attitude is a great way to develop preventable oral problems and experience severe dental emergencies later. Your biannual dental exams and cleanings allow your dentist to monitor your oral health, advise you about better hygiene practices, and correct issues like tooth decay and gum disease in their early stages.
Don’t Use Your Teeth Inappropriately
Many people idly chew on non-food items like pens, pencils, erasers, paperclips, or ice, and many others are in the habit of using their teeth to open packages or bottles. Unfortunately, these are excellent ways to chip, crack, fracture, or otherwise painfully break your teeth and wind up in your emergency dentist’s office. Remember to only use your teeth for chewing and smiling and leave the opening of packages to box cutters and bottle openers.
Dentists love seeing their patients, but they’d prefer that clients stay in good oral health rather than have to come in for preventable dental emergencies. By adopting these habits, you can keep your smile in great shape for life.
About the Author
Dr. Sherriff Ali completed his Advanced Education in General Dentistry at the University of Florida and has been in practice for more than 22 years. He is proud to be a member of the International Dental Implant Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Dental Association. His office in Wesley Chapel offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, contact his office online or dial (813) 461-3463.