Reduce Your Risk of Needing Urgent Dental Care
Few things are more stressful and less convenient than dental emergencies. These situations always seem to strike at the most inopportune times. You have to drop everything to contact your emergency dentist in Mesa, AZ and schedule an urgent appointment. Not to mention, they can cause a great deal of pain. Wouldn’t you want to prevent them if you could? While dental emergencies aren’t always avoidable, there are some precautions you can take to reduce your risk. Here are some easy tips on how to prevent dental emergencies.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home
Brushing your teeth every morning and every night for two minutes at a time can prevent plaque from building up and causing painful cavities and infections. Using a fluoridated toothpaste helps even more, as fluoride strengthens your tooth enamel and makes you more resistant to cavities. Remember to also floss at least once daily to remove food debris and bacteria from between your teeth. Lastly, rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash every day can target bacteria in hard-to-reach parts of your mouth.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Even if you’re a diligent brusher and flosser, there are still some areas of your mouth that you might not be able to reach. That’s where your routine dental checkups and cleanings come in. Not only can a hygienist remove accumulated plaque, but your dentist in Mesa, AZ will check for any small issues before they snowball into a full-fledged dental emergency. For example, if you have a tiny cavity now, it can be treated with a filling now, rather than a root canal or tooth extraction later on.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
Sugary treats are delicious, but unfortunately, the bacteria in your mouth feel the same way. They feed on the sugar particles in your mouth and produce acidic waste that erodes your tooth enamel, contributing to decay. Try to swap out sugary snacks for more mouth-healthy alternatives like nuts, cheese, yogurt, and fresh produce.
Wear A Mouthguard
Getting regular exercise is healthy, but dental injuries certainly are not. If you’re playing a high-contact sport or even a solo sport where there’s a chance of impact to your mouth, it couldn’t hurt to wear a mouthguard. Breaking or knocking out a tooth can not only hurt, but it can also be expensive to treat. Ask our dentists about a custom-made mouthguard designed to fit you comfortably and provide maximum protection.
