How To Prevent a Dental Emergency – Fort Worth, TX
Preventing Injury From the Start
Although you may not realize it, there are multiple things you do each day to prevent injuries. When going for a drive, you make sure everyone is wearing a seatbelt. When your child is riding a bike, you make sure they’re wearing a helmet. When cooking a meal, you turn off the stovetop when finished. While you certainly want to do your best to protect your family and your home from potential dangers, there are other things you can do to safeguard your smile, too. Dr. Kelly Blair and her team want you to have the reassurance of knowing they are available should you face a sudden dental emergency. But if you’d rather avoid one altogether, we invite you to review the following tips. If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our office.
Watch What You Eat
When it comes to the foods you consume, your teeth, gums, and overall health can be either positively or negatively impacted. Not only can hard, crunchy foods damage your tooth enamel, causing chips and cracks to form, but eating too much sugar or starch can cause bacteria to form and lead to cavity formation and gum disease. A sweet snack in moderation is fine, but you should remember to keep a glass of water nearby or immediately brush your teeth when finished.
Consuming healthier alternatives, as opposed to potato chips and candy bars, will only serve to benefit your smile. Leafy greens, lean proteins, low-fat dairy, fruits, and vegetables are great sources of vitamins and nutrients your body and smile need to stay healthy and avoid potential infection or damage.
Make Sure to Wear Proper Mouth Protection
Are you an avid sports fan? Do you enjoy playing football with friends or kicking around a soccer ball? Or are you more of an introvert who enjoys staying at home but suffers from increased stress resulting in teeth grinding? No matter your situation, these two instances are why it’s important to safeguard your teeth with appropriate mouth protection. Wearing a mouthguard while engaging in sports or while asleep at night can minimize the potential harm you can cause to your teeth and gums.
Excessive wear and tear, chronic jaw pain, broken or knocked-out teeth, or soft tissue lacerations are just a few of the possible injuries that can occur when not wearing a mouthguard. To avoid this problem, talk to Dr. Blair about having a custom-made oral appliance made for your smile, as it will keep teeth from moving against each other as well as minimize added pressure placed on your smile while playing your favorite sport.
Pay Attention to Your Oral Hygiene
Think brushing, flossing, and rinsing is only important because your dentist says so? Well, they’re certainly not wrong, but it’s also beneficial because it keeps your natural teeth firmly in place for many years. Not to mention, the fluoride in your toothpaste helps to strengthen tooth enamel and protect against decay. Because cavities and gum disease are two of the most common dental problems Americans currently face, regular morning and nighttime routines can decrease your chances of developing a serious infection that can lead to general health problems (i.e., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, etc.) as well as potential bone and tooth loss.
Be sure to brush twice a day for two minutes, floss at least once a day, and rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash.