Five Ultra-Useful Tips for Avoiding Dental Emergencies

Life comes at you pretty fast—and sometimes dental emergencies can occur right out of the blue! But despite their urgency, dental emergencies aren’t something that you should live in constant fear of. In fact, there are actually quite a few things you can do to drastically lower your chance of suffering one. Keep reading as your emergency dentist covers five useful tips you can follow to help you avoid dental emergencies and keep your smile healthy and bright.

Tip #1: Practice Good Oral Hygiene

This is by far the best and most effective way of preventing dental emergencies. You should brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes at a time, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a toothpaste with fluoride. You should hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree-angle to your teeth and brush using circular scrubbing motions instead of sawing back and forth. You should also floss daily and opt to rinse your mouth regularly with an antibacterial mouthwash. Lastly, replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months so it remains effective!

Tip #2: Watch What You Eat

Enjoying your favorite snacks and treats in moderation is fine, but overindulgence can lead to some problems. Eating foods with high amounts of sugars and starches can wreak havoc inside of your mouth, putting you at risk for tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and all sorts of nasty problems. You should also be mindful of hard or crunchy foods that could potentially chip or fracture your teeth. Consider a healthy and well-balanced diet consisting of hearty fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and of course, plenty of water!

Tip #3: Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

Your teeth are the best available tools at your disposal for eating—but that’s all! The primary and sole function of your pearly whites is to bite, tear, and chew your food. You shouldn’t be using your teeth to do things like open plastic packaging, untwist bottlecaps or lids, or hold your car keys when your hands are full. These bad habits will certainly lead to worn enamel and potentially injured teeth that require treatment.

Tip #4: Practice Sports Safety

If you enjoy playing sports or participating in outdoor activities, you should think about investing in a mouthguard. They’re affordable, easy-to-wear, and undoubtedly effective at preventing serious oral trauma and injury—they can easily save you from losing a tooth upon getting smacked in the mouth by a foul ball or flung elbow. Even non-contact sports can be potentially dangerous for your smile, so be sure that you’re safeguarding it.

Tip #5: Visit Your Dentist Regularly

You should visit your dentist every six months for a standard checkup and cleaning; these visits are what allow your dentist to monitor your oral health and ensure that there aren’t any undetected problems. Your dentist also has access to special equipment and methods that are very effective at removing built-up plaque and tartar from your teeth that your toothbrush can’t remove. This biannual maintenance goes a very long way towards preventing serious dental emergencies!

About the Practice

The team at Desert Springs Dental is honored to serve the dental needs of patients and families in the Gilbert, AZ area under the leadership of Dr. Shandy Condie. Dr. Condie received her dental doctorate from the Creighton School of Dentistry and is a proud member of the American Dental Association and the Arizona Dental Association. The practice is pleased to offer several available services including emergency dentistry. If you or a loved one has suffered a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to call and schedule an appointment: (480) 279-3100.