Avoid Dental Emergencies

Whether you have visited your urgent care dental practice recently or not, you can probably guess that dental emergencies are stressful. However, dental emergencies do happen, which warrants the need for an open-late dentist in your area or one who can offer next-day appointments.

Sure accidents happen and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.

But it’s even better to skip out on the trip entirely by preventing the emergency from happening.

Steps to Avoid Dental Emergencies

If you don’t want to deal with the pain of a toothache or the time and energy it takes to see an urgent care dental office, you’ll need to know how to avoid emergencies.

Do Not Ignore Dental Pain

Ignoring dental pain may be one of the worst ways to treat your dental health. You may be refraining from calling your dentist out of dental anxiety or lack of time, but your dental pain will soon become unbearable. As your toothache or gum aches become worse, you will be forced to look for an emergency dental clinic to offer toothache relief. Oftentimes, a mild toothache is easily corrected, but as it progresses, the toothache may require more involved procedures like root canal therapy or tooth extraction. Never put off seeing your dentist regularly or if you are in pain; this will help prevent a dental emergency.

Avoid Dangerous Situations

Though a cracked or knocked-out tooth is not always avoidable, there are certain situations that can be avoided. Refrain from playing contact sports without a custom mouthguard. If you participate in any sort of sport—especially contact sports like football, boxing, hockey, and wrestling—then you should always wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth.

Stay Away from Sharp Objects

To avoid objects becoming lodged in your gums, stay away from toothpicks and other sharp objects. Always use floss to remove food or debris. Do not use toothpicks, pens, or metal pins to remove anything from your teeth or gums. These sharp objects could lodge in your teeth, causing a painful dental emergency.

Refrain from Eating Hard Foods

Make sure you refrain from straining your teeth too much; don’t chew on hard candies or ice, and don’t use your teeth to open packages.

If possible, refrain from eating hard foods, such as popcorn kernels, candy, and fruit pits. These can crack your teeth, warranting emergency cracked tooth repair by your dentist. The best way to avoid these potential dangers is to chew slowly and refrain from eating these hard foods.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Put your dental benefits to use by scheduling regular dental checkups twice a year. Dental exams and teeth cleanings help keep your teeth and gums healthy which can prevent tooth decay, cavities, and other dental issues from becoming dental emergencies.

The more you know, the easier it can be to avoid emergencies.

When you find that you’re in desperate need of toothache relief after hours, you’ll need to find an emergency dental practice that can address your needs. If you do find yourself in a situation where you have a dental emergency or are suffering from a severe toothache, contact an emergency dentist in your area who can get you an appointment same or next-day to prevent further damage from occurring.

About the Author – Dr. Thuy Nguyen, DDS

Dr. Thuy Nguyen DDS in Tukwila, WA holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and received a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington. In 2011, she also completed the Progressive Orthodontic Program. She is known for her fine work and a friendly and caring attitude. Her enthusiasm for dentistry is contagious, as she designs and improves smile after smile. Dr. Nguyen is bilingual in English and Vietnamese. She maintains memberships to the Seattle King County Dental Association, The Washington State Dental Association, and The American Dental Association.

References:

6 Summer Oral Health Tips to Help You Avoid Dental Emergencies, United Concordia Dental. https://benefitsbridge.unitedconcordia.com/6-summer-oral-health-tips-to-help-you-avoid-dental-emergencies/

Dental Emergencies, Mouth Healthy – American Dental Association. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/dental-emergencies