Preventing accidental injury isn’t always possible. Sometimes we take a baseball to the mouth or slip on a patch of ice. But there are still many ways you can protect your oral health and reduce your risk of needing an urgent dental appointment. If you’re looking to stay healthy, here are a few best practices to ensure your teeth and gums stay out of trouble!
Keep it Clean
Keeping your teeth clean by flossing them once a day and brushing them twice a day is an excellent way to stay on top of your oral health. This will help eliminate bad bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease, so your mouth won’t need any intervention from your emergency dentist.
Check it Out
Even if your teeth look and feel fine, don’t skip your semi-annual dental appointments. Cleanings will remove tartar from your teeth you may not even realize you have, and even though you can’t see any issues lurking, your dentist might. You also will get a potentially lifesaving oral cancer screening, which is extremely important.
Keep Your Guard Up
Do you grind your teeth? Do you play sports? A mouth guard or bite guard can help protect those pearly whites from damage. If you don’t have one but need one, speak to your dentist today about having one created. You may even be grinding your teeth without realizing it, which is even more reason to visit your dentist and prevent potential tooth damage down the road!
Use Your Tools
You already know your teeth are not meant to open packages, bite nails, or chew on pen caps, but just in case you need the reminder, don’t use your teeth for anything other than food! Doing so can cause them to chip, crack, wear unevenly, or even fall out!
See, and Be Seen
If your teeth are feeling sensitive or are experiencing any kind of sudden discomfort or pain, be seen by your dentist as soon as possible. Often, it’s nothing, but in some cases acting swiftly can be the difference between a cavity and a crown, or one root canal instead of two or three!
Remember, preventing oral health injuries isn’t always possible, but in many cases, you can still protect yourself from cavities, gum disease, and tooth infections with these helpful tips!
About Our Practice
At United Dental Centers of Hammond, we work together to help patients of all ages protect their oral health. Whether you need an exam and cleaning, a cosmetic procedure, or you need to be seen for an urgent dental emergency, we’re here to help.
To schedule an emergency appointment, please visit our website or call us today at 219-933-4900.