Much like any medical emergency, accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. Simply following basic preventative care measures isn’t always enough to prevent the inevitable from happening. For example, we’ve had a few patients who have had to rush to the emergency room over the past few months due to slipping in the shower, kidney stones, and other unfortunate events. These patients didn’t plan to go to the ER, but life happened. The same goes for dental emergencies.
While brushing and flossing your teeth daily is absolutely necessary, we’d be lying if we told you that you’ll never experience a dental injury if you just do those two things. That said, engaging in preventative measures does reduce the chance of rushing to the doctor so they are still worth doing. As such, today we’ll discuss four dental tips to avoid a dental emergency in Raleigh.
1. Brush and Floss!
Okay, we know we just told you that brushing and flossing won’t completely protect your teeth from all dental injuries, but you are much more likely to experience a dental emergency in Raleigh if you don’t practice good oral hygiene. Therefore, at a minimum, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. By thoroughly and properly cleaning your mouth, you can get rid of 99% of decay-causing bacteria. It’s also the simplest and easiest way to avoid cavities, plaque build-up and other bacteria that can cause dental issues if left untreated. Likewise, if you avoid this step, you will dramatically increase the likelihood of a dental emergency.
2. Schedule Semi-Annual Professional Dental Check-ups
In addition to regularly brushing and flossing your teeth, it’s important to have your teeth professionally cleaned and checked twice a year if you want to avoid a dental emergency in Raleigh. Not only do we think professionally cleaned teeth feel great, but it’s also our chance to thoroughly inspect the inside of your mouth. Your favorite female dentist in Raleigh will be able to detect and identify any early dental problems including cavities, oral cancer, or symptoms of a future dental injury.
3. Stop Using Your Teeth on Non-Food Items
While you may occasionally chip a tooth on a hard candy or ice (both of which can be avoided), most dental injuries occur when you use your teeth to perform an action that they were never intended to do. For example, have you ever used your teeth to tear into a plastic bag or open a container? While your teeth are strong and can certainly get the job done, they were never meant to be a tool. In fact, this bad habit can eventually cause your teeth to crack, chip or break which then gives bacteria an open door to create decay in your mouth.
4. Wear Protection
If you’re a person who participates in vigorous activities or sports, then you are much more susceptible to having a dental emergency in Raleigh. As such, it’s important to wear some sort of protective mouth guard to avoid an injury to the mouth. Likewise, if you have bruxism (more commonly known as teeth grinding), we may recommend that you wear a night mouth guard to prevent further damage to your mouth as you sleep. We can even customize a mouth guard for you.
With all of that said, dental emergencies in Raleigh can happen when you least expect them, but if you follow these four tips, you can potentially avoid a disaster. Book an appointment with Dr. Garrett by calling our office and scheduling a new patient appointment. We’d love to help you achieve beautiful and healthy teeth.
