Everything You Need To Know About Dental Emergencies

A dental emergency is any condition that requires immediate treatment in order to save a tooth or stop any facial or oral pain. A dental emergency can be extremely painful and stressful, but it’s important to stay calm and seek treatment as soon as possible.

What Is A Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is any situation that requires immediate treatment in order to save a tooth or prevent permanent damage. Common examples include:

• Knocked-out tooth or teeth
• Broken, injured, or lost fillings and crowns
• Bitten tongue or lip that won’t stop bleeding
• Extensive tooth decay that affects the health and stability of your teeth, gums, and bone
• Extreme oral pain caused by an underlying condition such as an infected wisdom tooth or gum disease
• An abscessed tooth
• Dislodged orthodontic appliances such as braces.

How To Prevent Dental Emergencies?

The best way to avoid these cases of dental emergencies is to take good care of your teeth. Here are a few tips:

• Brush and floss your teeth regularly

The best way to avoid serious dental issues is to maintain good oral health habits such as brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth. If you are not vigilant about oral care, you are more likely to develop tooth decay or gum disease. These conditions can cause pain that may require emergency dental care. Cavities develop due to plaque buildup on teeth, which turns into tartar if not removed daily. This bacteria can lead to an infection requiring root canal therapy or an extraction.

• Rinse your mouth with mouthwash after a meal

Mouthwash is an excellent tool you can use to avoid dental emergencies caused by food particles and bacteria in your mouth. You can swish the mouthwash around your mouth for one to two minutes after you finish eating and then thoroughly spit it out. It’ll help remove unwanted debris from your teeth and prevent plaque buildup.

• Regular dental visits

Even with proper oral care at home, you should still visit your dentist twice a year to have your teeth and gums cleaned and examined by a professional. Our dental hygienists will remove any buildup of tartar or plaque from your teeth and gums, as well as look for signs of tooth decay and gum disease. By catching these issues early, we can prevent them from becoming larger issues that require more extensive treatment.

• Maintain a healthy diet

To maintain healthy teeth and gums, you should eat a balanced diet. Limit how often you eat sugary foods and drinks. You should also minimize between-meal snacking and choose nutritious snacks like fresh vegetables and plain yogurt. This helps keep your teeth clean. 

• Avoid using teeth as tools

Avoid chewing on hard objects, using your teeth to open packages, or using your teeth as tools. 

• Wear a mouthguard

One of the common reasons for dental emergencies is accidents or collisions while playing sports or games. To prevent any damage to the teeth during a fall or collision, wear a protective mouthguard while playing contact sports. 

If you want to learn more tips to maintain good oral health, schedule a consultation at Dental SPA by calling (407) 330-3601. You can also visit our dental office located at 205 Towne Center Blvd, Sanford, FL 32771, for all your dental concerns.