5 Easy Ways to Avoid a Dental Emergency

Even the best planning can’t always help you prevent a dental emergency. Whether you break a tooth on un-popped popcorn, knock one loose on a fly-ball, or even suffer an unexpected oral infection, sometimes painful dental damage comes as a complete surprise. Thankfully, however, there’s still plenty you can do to avoid accidental injuries in your mouth. Here’s a closer look at how you can reduce your risk of having a dental emergency and what you should do if the unthinkable occurs!

Brush & Floss

One of the easiest ways to protect your smile from painful dental emergencies like cavities and tooth infections is through excellent oral hygiene including brushing twice a day and flossing daily. This helps eliminate harmful oral bacteria and plaque buildup, keeping your teeth looking and feeling their best!

Wear a Mouthguard

Whether you play sports, clench your jaw, or grind your teeth, these activities all can cause painful dental injuries like excessive wear, broken teeth, and temporomandibular joint pain. A custom-made mouthguard can help protect your teeth and alleviate uncomfortable pressure that could land you in the emergency dental chair, so speak to your dentist today about your options!

Use the Right Tools

Have you ever struggled to open the package to your protein bar, or tear the top off your coffee creamer?  Was your first instinct to rip it with your teeth? While doing this may seem convenient, the truth is that it could put your smile in danger. Although yes, it might take a little more time to find a pair of scissors in that messy junk drawer, using the proper tools for the job can protect your gorgeous grin and reduce your risk of a dental emergency. Thus, only use your teeth for what they’re intended for: to chew food – not to open stubborn bags, envelopes, bottles or anything else inedible!

Watch Your Diet

Your diet can play a big role in your dental health. Eating things that are low in sugar and carbohydrates can help keep harmful oral bacteria at bay, as can avoiding foods and beverages that are highly acidic, as they can erode your tooth enamel. Finally, abstaining from smoking and using tobacco products can also help prevent dry mouth, which can increase cavities, bad breath, and your risk of gum disease!

Visit Your Dentist

Finally, no smile could be quite as lovely without the help of a dentist! Visiting every six months for your regular exams and cleanings can help keep your teeth looking and feeling their best, as well as put emerging problems like cavities and gum disease on your radar so you can potentially reverse or treat them before they become more painful and expensive to correct down the road!

Remember, while it isn’t always possible to avoid painful oral problems, when you practice these five useful tips you can help reduce your risk of suffering from unexpected dental emergencies. If the unexpected does occur, stay calm, make sure you’re somewhere safe, and contact your emergency dentist as soon as possible for further guidance!

About Dr. Peters

Dr. Thomas Peters earned his bachelor’s degree at Boston College and his dental doctorate at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. He is currently a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, an achievement that less than 2% of all dentists in the United States have earned. He is also a proud, active member of the American Dental Association, Connecticut State Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry, and the Hartford Dental Society. For dental emergencies, call Farmington Valley Dental directly at 860-677-8500 for faster assistance!