How to Prevent a Dental Emergency

There’s never a good time to experience a dental emergency. That’s why it’s important that you do everything in your power to prevent an emergency from happening in the first place.

The good news is that healthy habits are the key to maintaining a healthy smile. Something as simple as brushing your teeth twice a day will greatly reduce your risk of cavities, gum disease, and other issues.

Likewise, being able to prevent a dental emergency will help you save money that you would have otherwise spent on restorative treatment.

Here’s what else you need to know.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

One of the main causes of oral health problems is dental plaque. Plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that lives inside your mouth. As it consumes sugar, it produces an acid that erodes your enamel and attacks your gums.

To prevent dental plaque buildup, it’s important that you practice good oral hygiene at home. This means brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time. You should also floss once a day to remove any food particles or plaque hiding between teeth.

While it’s optional, you may also consider using a fluoride mouth rinse. Fluoride helps to strengthen your teeth so it’s more resistant to acid attacks from plaque.

Practicing good oral hygiene is a form of self-care so you can avoid cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.

Wear a Sports Mouth Guard

Do you play a contact sport like football or hockey? If so, we recommend wearing a custom mouth guard from your dentist. A mouth guard is an oral appliance that provides a layer of protection over your teeth. That way, it’ll absorb any impact if you’re hit in the face and reduce your risk of cracking or knocking out a tooth.

A custom mouth guard will offer a higher level of protection than one you buy at the sporting goods store. That’s because it’s made from digital dental impressions of your teeth and gums. This ensures a comfortable fit that’s not too tight or loose. It also helps you breathe more easily while you play so you can focus on the game.

Even if you don’t play a contact sport, you may want to consider wearing a mouth guard if there’s a substantial risk of oral injury.

Don’t Skip Your Teeth Cleaning Appointments

In general, we recommend that our patients schedule their teeth cleanings with us every 6 months. But Dr. Habecker may need to see you more frequently if he needs to closely monitor an oral health condition, such as periodontitis.

While you can remove plaque at home by brushing and flossing, only a dental health professional will be able to remove tartar. Tartar is calcified plaque.

We may also take X-rays if it’s been a while since your last ones. This allows us to detect decay between teeth, bone loss in the jaw, and other issues that we can’t see with the naked eye.

After your dental cleaning, Dr. Habecker will examine your teeth and gums. He’ll also examine any X-rays that we may have taken during your appointment.

This level of preventive care will help you reduce your risk of having a dental emergency. That’s because we’re able to detect small issues with your oral health before they have the opportunity to worsen.

Request an Appointment With Dr. Habecker

Dr. Brenton Habecker is an experienced family dentist in Holland, MI. As such, he offers emergency dental care and other services to restore your oral health.

If you have a dental emergency, please call Macatawa Smiles at (616) 396-7524. For non-emergencies, you may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our office will reach out to you soon.