How to Prevent a Dental Emergency

Unfortunately, not all dental emergencies are preventable. Accidents happen! But there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of experiencing a dental emergency. Here are 3 things you can do to keep your smile healthy and help protect it from serious dental issues! (But if you do need emergency dental care, our team can help!)

1. Address Any Chronic, Persistent Tooth Pain

Don’t leave tooth pain untreated. Tooth pain typically indicates a serious underlying dental issue. The best thing to do is to speak with your dentist and get a dental exam. During your exam, your dentist will be able to pinpoint the issue and address it before it becomes a more severe dental issue that results in the need for more extensive restorative treatment, or worse–tooth loss!

2. Protect Your Smile with Mouthguards

Mouthguards are a key way to avoid dental emergencies and protect your teeth both at home and while you play! There are a few kinds of mouthguards that can help protect your smile in different facets of your life. If you’re playing a contact sport, we recommend wearing a custom-fitted sportsguard. It will protect your teeth, gums, and jaw from any type of force, such as a hard ball or an elbow. Did you know that mouthguards aren’t just used for sports? If you struggle with nighttime clenching and teeth grinding, you would benefit from a nightguard. Nightguards create a thick barrier between your upper and lower teeth to cushion excessive forces exerted by your upper and lower jaw. This helps protect your teeth from wearing down, cracking, or breaking.

3. Maintain a Great At-Home Oral Hygiene Routine

If you don’t maintain a great oral hygiene routine, you may be more susceptible to developing oral health issues such as gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss. Keeping your smile healthy and strong can help prevent emergency tooth pain from infection. Brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste help protect your tooth enamel and keep it strong. Make sure you brush for a full two minutes to remove any plaque buildup and food debris. It’s also crucial that you floss every day to dislodge any food debris and bad bacteria in the crevices between your teeth and under your gums.

4. Schedule Your Regular Dental Visits

Proactively taking a preventive approach to your oral healthcare can help you avoid some dental emergencies. In addition to brushing and flossing regularly, we recommend visiting the dentist at least twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. Our team will work with you to keep your smile in tip-top shape! Please contact Wagner & Langston Family Dentistry to schedule your next visit.

Categorized in: Dental Emergency