No emergencies are pleasant, but dental emergencies are particularly stressful, painful, and let’s not forget that they can rack up quite the bill. The pain of a toothache or abscess makes getting through the day intolerable. Even if one manages to bear it, which they shouldn’t, it will only lead to long-term damage. The good news, however, is that most dental emergencies can be prevented by simply having the right daily routine.
The Role of Routine Dental Care
All reputable clinics, like Aura Dentists, repeat the phrase we all know but hardly ever follow: prevention is better than cure. Regular dental visits may appear to be a hassle initially, but their advantage lies in the fact that they make it possible to identify and address potential problems early on. It is always easier to fix a little problem and always wiser not to let it snowball into a disaster.
During an appointment, dentists can detect early signs of decay, gum disease, and structural weakness in teeth, allowing for early intervention. This saves both the health of your teeth and that pretty smile, as well as the need for invasive and costly treatment later on.
Daily Oral Hygiene Practices
One really doesn’t have to make much effort for oral care. Here is a solid at-home oral care routine that is fundamentally approved by dentists around the world and proven to drastically prevent dental issues:
- Brushing Twice Daily: Use fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth at least twice a day. This helps remove plaque and prevent cavities.
- Flossing Daily: Flossing removes food particles and plaque from areas your toothbrush can’t reach, reducing the risk of decay and gum disease.
- Mouthwash: Incorporating an antibacterial mouthwash can help reduce bacteria and freshen breath.
- Visiting the Dentist: If you’re wondering how often you need to visit the dentist, the generally accepted answer is every half or quarter year. However, the number does fluctuate based on the dental hygiene practices followed by the individual.
Regular Replacement of Oral Care Tools
Perhaps one of the easiest things an individual can do yet often fails to is replacing their dental care tools on time. It is recommended that toothbrushes be replaced every three to four months, if not sooner, depending on the condition of the bristles. If they have become frayed, it’s time to let go. Using a worn-out brush is like driving a car with no tyre tread—it isn’t going to do a great job. It compromises oral hygiene.
Educating Children on Oral Health
Routine care is a habit, and habits can be difficult for adults to adopt later in life. However, instilling good habits in general is much easier. The sooner you teach children about good oral hygiene habits, the better. This way, a solid foundation is built, and ideally, they should have healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime. Here’s what you should teach them—and this goes for individuals of all ages:
- The importance of regular brushing, especially before bed
- Flossing
- Routine dental visits
- Cleaning the tongue and rinsing with mouthwash
Activities to Avoid
Accidents happen, but many dental injuries occur due to nothing but negligence and perhaps ignorance. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- If you’re into sports, you might want to consider wearing a mouthguard. No, it isn’t only recommended for those doing martial arts. It is also recommended for non-contact sports like basketball or skateboarding.
- Your teeth aren’t tools. Avoid opening bottles or cracking nuts with them.
- It may seem tempting to chew hard objects like kernels or ice, but you’d ideally want to avoid it.
- As tempting as soft drinks, lollies, and other sugary items are, processed sugar is one of the worst things for oral hygiene, so limit your consumption.
- Smoking and vaping are known to not just cause lung cancer but also gum disease and stained teeth.
Conclusion
Preventing dental emergencies is largely within one’s control, but it does require consistent effort. One needs to take proactive action by being diligent with their at-home hygiene, dental checkups, eating habits, and just paying attention to their teeth—if something feels or looks off. However, overall, with the right routine, one can absolutely avoid most dental emergencies.