Dental emergencies can be just as urgent and dangerous as other health emergencies. At Haltom Family Dental, we try to make them as worry-free as possible. However, there are plenty of ways you can prevent dental emergencies from happening in the first place:
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
It might sound pretty obvious, but practicing good oral hygiene is vital for your health. In fact, practicing good oral hygiene is one of the best things you can do to prevent dental emergencies.
Some easy habits to follow in practicing good oral hygiene are brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day, flossing daily, and getting your teeth professionally cleaned and checked every six months. Without question, having regular teeth cleaning also means our dentist will have the opportunity to check your teeth twice a year for any signs of trouble. In this sense, we can treat oral health problems before they become serious dental emergencies.
Use Fluoride Toothpaste and Mouth Rinse
When you brush your teeth twice a day, it’s important that your toothpaste and mouthwash contain fluoride. This is because fluoride toothpaste contains a naturally occurring mineral that strengthens your teeth and prevents tooth decay and gingivitis. By using fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash, you’re giving your teeth extra help in preventing serious oral health issues and dental emergencies.
Watch What You’re Eating and Drinking
Again, it seems obvious, but maintaining a healthy diet can be a great way to avoid serious oral health issues. When you eat unhealthy junk food, plaque can form on your teeth from the sugar or other carbohydrates. If you don’t maintain good brushing habits, certain bacteria in your mouth will consume the plaque and produce acids that will damage the enamel of your teeth, and cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Learn Healthy Ways to Manage Your Stress
Stress can take a serious toll on your physical health. In fact, it can also negatively affect your oral health. If you’re stressed, you may resort to habits like biting or chewing on hard things to reduce stress, like fingernails, pens, or bottle caps. You may clench or grind your teeth at night, leading to jaw pain. More importantly, when you’re stressed it may be harder to resist unhealthy foods that can increase your risk for tooth decay. Altogether, learning ways to manage your stress will help not just your mental health, but also your oral health. With this being said, our dentists at Haltom family dental may be able to help with some of your symptoms. For example, if you have a habit of teeth grinding when you sleep, we can create and design special mouthguards for you to wear while you sleep to protect your teeth and your smile.
Seek Treatment for Dental Pain Quickly
Dental pains are the worst! If you’re suffering from a toothache, treat it right away. Pain is one of the biggest indicators that something is not right. Getting treatment as soon as possible can be the difference between needing a routine dental procedure and undergoing serious oral surgery. Our team at Haltom family dental has the skills and technology necessary to act appropriately during a dental emergency. We’ll work hard to give you the best chance of regaining your oral health and preserving your smile.
At Haltom family dental, we can help you take charge of your oral health and protect your smile from dental emergencies with our services. Most importantly, if you are suffering from a dental emergency, our team is here to help you. Call Haltom family dental at 623.469.6090, or contact us online.
