Thankfully I have never had the need to call out in a dental emergency, but these incidents happen more than you may realize. There is an emergency dentist near me who I go to for checkups, and he has told me some pretty nasty tales about patients who have found themselves in need of some emergency care. The galling thing about this is that in most cases, those patients could have easily avoided finding themselves in a situation whereby they required emergency care, and here are some top ways in which you can make sure such a problem doesn’t befall you.
Using a Mouth Guard
One of the most common reasons for emergency dental care is as a result of an accident whilst playing sports or exercising. This could be as a result of a basketball injury, a fall during football or even getting hit in the mouth with a baseball. There is a very simple way in which you can avoid such a problem and that is to use a mouthguard. These guards are hardly even noticeable and they will make sure that your teeth are protected from cracking, chipping or breaking if you get whacked in the mouth. The guards are inexpensive and they will save you a huge amount in possible dental fees.
Regular Checkups
The idea of a 6 monthly checkup is so that you can identify any issues which you may have, in their infancy. In most cases simple problems can be easily resolved and leave you smiling. If however these simple problems are not fixed, you will find that it grows and grows, until it becomes something which lays you out or leaves you in agony. Looking after your teeth is of course something which we should all be doing, but even if you do, a regular checkup is still an important part of your overall dental care.
Don’t Ignore Signs
Even if you practice good dental hygiene it is important that you look out for any signs that there may be something wrong with your teeth or gums. For example if you see blood when you clean your teeth or if you feel any pain, it is always the best approach to go and get a checkup with your dentist. Many people who find themselves in emergency situations report that they had some pain in an area of the mouth some months before. Pain, blood or even discomfort when eating, are all signs that there is something wrong, and this is why it is important that you get see a dentist whenever something like this happens.
Emergency dental problems are painful, they can be traumatic and they can also prove to be very expensive to you. This is why it is important that you are doing all that you can to ensure that they do not happen in the first place. Beyond good oral care, these are some of the ways in which you can ensure that it doesn’t happen to you.