While it is always a good idea to have an emergency dentist on call, individuals can avoid a dental emergency and all the pain, cost and hassle that comes with one by taking preventative measures. In many cases, this simply entails adopting healthy lifestyle habits.
Dental emergencies, which range from toothache to fractured teeth to abscesses, can be painful and costly. Many dental emergencies also come with the high risk of severe gum bleeding and even tooth loss. For these reasons and more, patients should take precautions to prevent dental emergencies from occurring entirely.
One of the easiest ways patients can avoid dental emergencies is by practicing good oral hygiene. The majority of dental emergencies involve severe tooth decay and rot, both of which can lead to dental abscesses, broken or chipped teeth, jaw bone deterioration and tooth loss. Regular brushing and flossing, paired with routine dental visits, can help keep the mouth clean and clear of bacteria and decay-causing cavities.
Stress can take a toll on all aspects of a person’s health, including dental health. Stress often causes individuals to engage in activities that can either cause or exacerbate existing oral health issues. Such activities include chewing on pens and other objects, clenching the jaw, nail-biting and teeth grinding. Each of these activities can crack or weaken the teeth or stress the nerves in the back of the jaw.
Many people try to stop engaging in these stress-related habits by adopting other forms of stress relief. Others find it is easier to tackle the source of the stress so that there is no desire to engage in the habits.
Certain foods, like certain habits, can damage the teeth if a person is not careful. Ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy are all examples of foods people commonly chew that can crack, chip or even break the teeth. Once a tooth becomes cracked, bacteria can easily enter the fissure and hide there, away from floss or a toothbrush. That bacteria can lead to cavities, tooth rot or, in some cases, a dental abscess. Avoiding hard foods may prove to be difficult at first, but doing so is well worth the self-control, as avoidance can prevent costly and painful dental emergencies.
Many dental emergencies occur during sporting events. Individuals who participate in sports, especially contact sports, should wear mouthguards to absorb heavy blows to the mouth and protect the teeth from sustaining damage.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Emergency Dentist in San Diego, CA.
Biannual dental examinations and cleanings are necessary to detect possible problems early on and to prevent issues from becoming more costly or extensive than they need to be. Additionally, a dentist can remove stubborn plaque, which can cause decay, as well as provide advice for what patients can do to reverse early dental carries.
Avoiding the need for the care of an emergency dentist does not have to be difficult. By following the above advice, you can protect your teeth and avoid a possibly costly and painful dental situation.
Request an appointment or call Mission Valley Dental Arts at 619-805-4248 for an appointment in our San Diego office.
If you have an abscessed tooth, then a visit to an emergency dentist is important for you. An abscessed tooth is caused by a bacterial infection that causes a pocket of pus to form in different parts of the tooth. This can lead to medium to strong pain that can radiate from the ear to…
An emergency dentist provides the urgent dental care you need when you need it. Minor dental issues like cavities do not get significantly worse if they are not treated immediately, but issues like an infection can become a life-threatening issue during that period. People who cannot afford to wait for a routine dental appointment to…
Sterilization and disinfection procedures are critical for infection control processes at Mission Valley Dental Arts. These processes are done in accordance to recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Using the recommendations as a guide, the methods of disinfection and sterilization can be learned and understood, which is important, especially during…
In orthodontics, clear aligners are gaining popularity at dental offices everywhere. People enjoy this approach for several reasons. Before you decide which teeth-straightening method is right for your needs, it is helpful to learn everything you can about the aligners. Though there are differences in wearing these, the way in which they move teeth is…
Dental veneers, artificial shells that go over teeth, can improve your smile in many ways, from concealing irremovable stains to filling in gaps between teeth. Some procedures are only to change the appearance of a smile, while others can also provide a stronger defense against oral issues and infections. Whatever a patient’s personal needs, it…
