An accident can happen at any time, leading to severe pain, trauma, or discomfort in your mouth. When in a situation where you have an injury in your mouth affecting your teeth and gums, you should seek immediate dental emergency care. Remember that some oral injuries can lead to serious gum or teeth issues, which can cause extensive dental damage without treatment. A dentist specializing in Midtown emergency dentistry is often accessible even after regular business hours. Some signs you may need the services of a dentist offering emergency dentistry may include dental pain, a cracked or broken tooth, a knocked-out tooth, bleeding or aching gums, a dental abscess, or severe soft tissue damage.
You may have cracked or chipped teeth because of an accident or biting and chewing hard objects. Also, your teeth may chip or break if you suffer from the grinding of the teeth, a condition called bruxism.
Furthermore, you may require emergency dental care because you have an injury affecting the soft tissues of your mouth, such as the tongue, gums, lips, and the inside of your cheeks. If you have a soft tissue injury in your mouth, like a busted lip, you may have to rinse it with warm water and apply pressure to stop bleeding before seeking emergency dental care.
Subsequently, the tips below may help you avoid dental emergency care.
1. Brush teeth regularly
According to the American Dental Association, brush your teeth twice daily using a fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes.
The fluoride in the toothpaste can help neutralize the acid that the bacteria in your mouth produce and enrich your tooth enamel with essential minerals that strengthen it.
Brushing your teeth can help reduce or eliminate the accumulation of food debris and plaque in your mouth.
Plaque is a sticky film that forms around your gums and teeth and contains harmful bacteria that can damage the structures of your mouth through the production of corrosive acid.
2. Schedule routine dental visits
The Oral Health Foundation recommends visiting your dentist yearly or after every six months. However, if you have dental issues, see your dentist after every 3 or 4 months.
Regularly visiting your dentist can help detect oral problems early or stop them from happening. It is much more difficult to spot issues underneath your gums and between and inside your teeth.
A visit to your dentist can also enable you to benefit from professional teeth cleaning.
3. Wear a sports guard or a night guard
Sports and night guards are oral appliances you can wear to protect your teeth from injury or trauma.
You will wear a sports guard to protect your teeth and smile as you play contact sports such as basketball, boxing, football, hockey, martial arts, or rugby. On the other hand, you wear a night guard to stop you from clenching or grinding your teeth while you sleep.
Also, you may not require dental emergency care by avoiding foods and drinks that expose your teeth to attack by oral bacteria, which causes decay. Additionally, do not use your teeth for holding or opening items.
Contact Charles M. Marks, DDS & Dental Associates, today to schedule an appointment with a specialist in emergency dentistry.
