7 Tips to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Emergency dentistry is a specialty of dentistry that offers urgent dental care to patients who have dental emergencies. The nature of dental emergencies is characterized by urgency and severity. As such, it makes it unbearable and rather impossible to delay or withhold treatment for patients with oral emergencies.

How Do You Know You Have an Oral Emergency?

There are many types of dental emergencies. Some dental emergencies occur due to external impact that causes dental injuries and traumas. Many other oral issues occur as a progression and advancement of a typical dental problem left untreated. Figuring out whether or not you are experiencing an emergency will depend on different factors, including:

1. Pain levels – are you experiencing too much pain that it is unbearable?
2. Amount and duration of bleeding – too much blood that flows for a prolonged period is always a cause for alarm.
3. Swelling – unusual swelling on different parts of your face as a consequence of an oral problem should be handled as an oral emergency.
4. Damaged or lost teeth or oral appliances – if anything in your mouth is missing or damaged, it is enough a reason for you to reach out to an emergency dentist near you.

How Can You Avoid Dental emergencies?

Granted, you cannot predict when an oral emergency occurs. It is especially particular for dental emergencies caused by accidents and dental injuries. However, there are ways to protect your oral cavity and reduce the chances of having an oral emergency. They include the following seven:

1. Brush your teeth daily – oral hygiene is paramount in the pursuit of excellent oral health. Dentists in Chicago can identify right away the patients who have been keen to keep up with proper oral hygiene. If you brush your teeth at least twice every day, you reduce the presence of harmful bacteria in your mouth that could cause an infection. While at it, be sure to floss your teeth often so you can remove any food residues and plaque between your teeth.
2. Keep up with regular dental visits – visiting a dentist near you should become part of your lifestyle. You get to benefit from routine dental exams, which allow your dentist to examine and monitor the health of your oral cavity. As such, you may never have any unknown underlying oral problems that worsen and turn into dental emergencies.
3. Do not skip dental cleanings – teeth cleaning treatments are a fundamental way of caring for your oral cavity to prevent many dental issues from occurring. They are also the best way to boost your oral hygiene efforts at home, therefore, excelling in oral hygiene.
4. Wear mouthguards – one of the things that every emergency dentist near you wishes all patients could do is wear a mouthguard. Many dental injuries and accidents can be prevented and avoided by simply wearing a mouth protector. They can easily be found over-the-counter, or better yet, customized by a dentist near you. You should be particularly interested in finding the best-fitting mouthguard if you are frequently involved in high-contact sports.
5. Seek treatment for all dental problems – even though you perceive them to be small, ensure you visit a dentist near you to treat all dental problems. In many cases, delaying treatment for typical dental illness is the reason patients end up needing emergency dental services in Chicago.
6. Watch what you eat – every day, you have the opportunity of boosting your health or compromising it. What you eat and drink will, in more ways than one, influence the health of your oral cavity as well as your general health. Sugary foods, for instance, only increase your chances of tooth decay. Other foods you should be cautious about include sticky foods, hard foods, and processed sugars. Instead, focus on fruits and vegetables. You can even talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for vitamins that can boost your oral and general health.
7. Avoid improper use of your teeth – many people use their teeth improperly, for example, to cut things or open cans. Such can cause your teeth to break, crack, or even become hypersensitive. Instead, use openers, crackers, and scissors instead of your teeth.