Dental emergencies have a nasty way of striking at the least convenient times and causing great deals of pain, so it’s best to do what you can to prevent them. Luckily, you can avoid most oral health crises with excellent oral hygiene and a little common sense. Here’s a quick look at a few of the best ways to prevent dental emergencies so you can keep your smile healthy and comfortable.
Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene
Practicing excellent oral hygiene at home is the most important part of protecting your teeth and gums from destructive infections. To eliminate plaque, food debris, and sugary residues that serve as breeding grounds for harmful oral bacteria, stick to the following habits:
- Brushing: Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush at least twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. Do this using gentle, short, circular strokes to minimize the risk of the enamel being scratched. It’s ideal to also brush between meals, but be sure to wait at least thirty minutes after eating before doing so so your enamel has time to recover.
- Flossing: Flossing is just as important for protecting your teeth as brushing since it can eliminate harmful materials from the places where a toothbrush cannot reach. When flossing, hold the thread tight between your hands and slide it gently between two teeth. Then, gently move it up and down and side to side against the edge of either tooth. Repeat the process for each other pair of teeth until the whole mouth has been treated. Doing this once a day is usually sufficient, but it’s best to floss between meals.
- Antibacterial mouthwash: Rinsing with this will kill massive numbers of harmful oral bacteria, reinforce your enamel, and leave your breath minty and fresh. It’s best to use this product once a day according to the instructions on the bottle. Look for the ADA’s seal of approval on the label.
Make Smart Eating Decisions
Human brains think sugar is incredibly tasty because it is rich with simple chemical energy that the body can easily absorb, and harmful oral bacteria love the stuff for exactly the same reason. Unfortunately, the human body is not well-adapted to dealing with the high concentrations of sugar found in many popular foods, so excessive consumption of sweets can lead to tooth decay as well as a host of other health problems. Be sure to enjoy sugary items only in moderation and to practice excellent oral hygiene afterward.
Acid is also horrible for your oral health because it erodes enamel on contact. Many items such as pickled foods, hot sauce, juices, and soda pop are rich with acid, so it’s best to enjoy these only in moderation and alongside a tall glass of water to help wash them away from your teeth. Also be sure to clean your teeth thoroughly afterward.
Don’t let poor habits set you up for painful dental emergencies. By seeing your dentist for regular checkups and heeding their advice, you can keep your teeth healthy and comfortable for decades.
About the Practice
Healthy Smiles Dental Care offers the finest oral health services to the community of Chelsea. Led by Drs. Steven Rodriguez, Alison Tseng, Hana Gadalla, and Brent Mueller, the staff treats each patient with compassion, courtesy, and outstanding customer service. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To learn more about preventing dental emergencies or to book your next checkup, contact the office online or dial (734) 475-8911.