Dental emergencies can be frightening, especially when you least expect them. But while you can’t avoid them, it is necessary to get preventive dental services in the first place. This enables the dentist to identify and address dental problems early on before they become serious. Also, understanding common dental emergencies and their preventive measures can help protect your dental health and minimize the risk of further damage. Continue reading for more information.
What Are the Common Dental Emergencies and How to Avoid Them?
The following are among the most common dental emergencies anyone can encounter and how you can prevent them:
1. Cracked, Broken, or Chipped Teeth
Tooth fractures can happen due to hard impacts from accidents, clenching and grinding the teeth, or even weakened tooth enamel because of bad habits.
Here’s how you can prevent it:
- Be consistent on routine dental checkups so your dentist can determine and treat any weaknesses in your enamel early on.
- Avoid chewing hard objects, like ice cubes or pens, as these can crack your teeth.
- Stop grinding and clenching your teeth due to stress.
- Ask your dentist about using a mouthguard when playing contact sports.
2. Severe Toothache
Dental abscesses, gum disease, cavities, and sinus infections often result in toothaches. They can also be triggered by loose crowns or fillings. To prevent it from happening, consider the following steps:
- Keep up with good oral hygiene practices, including brushing twice daily and flossing once daily.
- Book an appointment with your dentist at least twice yearly for cleanings and checkups to find any signs of infection early on. You may visit their website to read more about preventive dental services.
- Avoid using hard things like pencils or pens to pry open stuck food particles between your teeth, as this could damage tooth enamel and increase the risk of decay.
- If you observe any changes in your oral health, contact a reliable dental facility near you.
3. Lost Filling or Dental Crown
Crowns and fillings can come loose due to decay, age, a blow to the teeth, or even biting on hard items. To prevent them from becoming a dental emergency, do the following preventive measures:
- Visit your dentist two times annually for professional cleanings and checkups so they can examine your crowns and fillings for signs of wear and tear.
- Avoid chewing on hard objects like ice cubes or pens, as this might cause existing fillings and crowns to become loose or dislodged.
- Brush at least two times daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss once daily, and use mouthwash to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
4. Infections
Dental infections should never be neglected, as they can become more severe. Maintaining good oral hygiene, like brushing twice daily, helps prevent infection. Moreover, schedule regular checkups with your dentist to identify any infections early on and prevent them from worsening in the long run.
Symptoms include:
- Chills
- Halitosis
- Fever
- Swelling around the affected gum area or tooth
- Discomfort in your mouth or jaw
- Redness around the affected tooth or gum area
5. Jaw Pain
Jaw pain can be caused by a bad bite (malocclusion), clenching and grinding your teeth, an injury, or even TMJ Disorders. If not treated for a long time, it can lead to severe health problems.
Prevention measures include:
- Schedule routine dental appointments from facilities like North Atlanta Family Dentistry to find any signs of jaw discomfort early on.
- Be careful when eating and avoid biting down too hard on food.
- Avoid clenching and grinding your teeth due to stress.
- Seek professional help for the treatment of TMJ Disorders right away.
- Wear a nightguard if you’re suffering from bruxism (teeth grinding) while sleeping.
When you encounter situations requiring emergency dental care in Atlanta, it is essential to contact your dentist immediately.