We tend to take good dental health are granted until we experience an emergency. Unfortunately, unless you take care of your teeth and gums properly, you will most likely need to see an emergency dentist in Newcastle at some stage. If you have ever experienced a dental emergency, you will know it is upsetting and can even be frightening, especially if you or someone close to you is in pain. However, there are ways you can prevent some dental emergencies by becoming better informed, so you know what to look for and when to see a dentist urgently.
- Ensuring you look after your dental health will help prevent many common dental emergencies and will go a long way to preventing dental emergencies. It’s important to brush your teeth at least twice a day, especially last thing at night.
- Even if you feel very tired and are tempted to skip this routine, remember it will only take a couple of minutes to complete. Electric toothbrushes are a good choice because they have built-in timers, but if you prefer to use a manual toothbrush, use your smartphone or keep the timer in the bathroom to make sure you brush thoroughly.
- Replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head regularly as they only last three months or will need replacing more frequently if they start to look splayed or worn. If you have an electric toothbrush, it most likely has built-in wear indicators telling you when it’s time to change. A worn toothbrush cannot clean your teeth effectively and is a false economy.
- Cleaning between your teeth is essential and is a task you need to complete every day whether you choose to use dental floss or other tools like soft picks or interdental brushes, or a water pik. Confused about flossing or not sure you are doing it correctly? Ask us for help and advice next time you visit West Bowmanville Family Dental.
- Come and see us if you notice any changes to your oral health, for example, a tooth that begins to ache or if you have a filling that has begun to crumble away or is leaking. A painful tooth is always a sign that something is wrong, but if the tooth pain disappears, you may think the problem is resolved. Unfortunately, a tooth infection can kill the tooth nerve, so while the pain may disappear, the infection is still present. The sooner you seek emergency dental care in Clarington, the easier it is to treat a tooth infection and hopefully save the tooth.
- Be aware of any changes to your oral tissues. For example, any sore spots or ulcers that fail to heal after a couple of weeks require proper investigation.
- Eat sugary treats more mindfully, and instead of snacking on them, include these as part of your main meal. When you snack on sweet treats frequently, it feeds harmful bacteria that produce acid as a byproduct. The acid attacks your tooth enamel and eventually can cause cavities. By including a sweet treat as part of your main meal, you minimize this damage because your mouth is naturally more acidic after eating, reducing the time your teeth are exposed to harmful acids.
- Wear a sports mouthguard if you love playing sports. Dental injuries can be caused by contact and non-contact sports, so if there is a risk you could take a blow to the mouth, it’s far better and cheaper to invest in a custom-fitted mouthguard.
Lastly, make sure you come and see us regularly for dental checkups and cleanings in Courtice. We can work with you to prevent dental disease, ensuring you gain satisfaction and peace of mind knowing you care for your mouth properly.