Have you ever had a dental emergency? There’s never a good time for them to arise. From a chipped tooth to lost dental restorations, it can be difficult to keep your composure if you ever find yourself in this situation. Though your emergency dentist will do what they can to repair the damage, it’s best to avoid it in the first place. To help you do so, here are five tips that will help you keep dental emergencies at bay.
Tip #1: Brush Regularly
Brushing twice per day for two minutes is key to maintaining a healthy smile. this allows you to remove bacteria, plaque, and food particles from your pearly whites, which lowers your risk of oral health issues like cavities and gum disease. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to prevent enamel damage and toothpaste with fluoride in it to strengthen your smile against decay.
Tip #2: Floss Often
Flossing your teeth is the best way to effectively remove plaque and food particles from between them. This will keep cavities from forming between your teeth. by keeping cavities from forming in the first place, you can also avoid potentially serious tooth infections.
Tip #3: Limit Your Sugar Intake
When we eat sugar, harmful oral bacteria in the mouth feed on it and release acids that attack our enamel. This causes it to become weak and makes your smile more susceptible to decay. Starchy and high-carb foods like bread break down into sugar in the mouth, so they can harm your smile in the same way. Be sure to cut back on the number of sweets and carb-heavy foods and drinks you consume to keep your smile healthy and avoid a dental emergency.
Tip #4: Wear a Mouthguard
If you play hockey, football, or any other contact sports, you are likely familiar with taking a blow to the face. This is why wearing a mouthguard is so important. It will protect your teeth and other oral structures from harm. Additionally, if you have TMJ issues or suffer from bruxism, you should speak with your dentist about having a nightguard custom-made to protect your teeth while you sleep.
Tip #5: Stay Hydrated
Though drinking water is important for preventing dehydration, it’s also key to keeping cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues that can cause dry mouth at bay. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid these issues. Additionally, consider eating more foods and veggies with a high water content, such as apples, pears, cucumbers, watermelon, and tomatoes.
Along with the above tips, be sure to visit your dentist every six months for checkups and cleanings. These biannual visits are a crucial part of preventing dental emergencies since they allow your dentist to make sure you don’t have any oral health issues developing. This will allow you to maintain a lovely smile for years to come!
About the Author
The seven talented dentists across Tylan Creek Family Dentistry’s three South Carolina locations aim to make patients feel comfortable, respected, and well cared for from the moment they arrive. They can treat patients experiencing dental emergencies quickly and effectively so they can get their smiles back on the right track. Call Tylan Creek Family Dentistry’s Powdersville office at (864) 603-2200, their Greenwood office at (864) 407-4455, their Simpsonville office at (864) 962-6671, or visit their website for more information on their services or to schedule a consultation.