Reduce Your Risk of Dental Emergencies

No one expects a dental emergency in San Jose, but they can happen in the blink of an eye and under seemingly benign conditions. Chewing on hard foods or playing a fun game of touch football can quickly turn into a painful dental emergency with a cracked or knocked-out tooth. Here are a few ways you can reduce potential dental emergencies from happening to your or your family:

Wear Sports Mouth Guards

Even if you only play sports for occasional fun—at a family football game or on a weekly softball team—you could still end up with a knocked-out or cracked tooth by an accidental ball throw. To reduce the risk of needing urgent dental care, always wear a sports mouth guard when playing any sports. You can ask your dentist for a custom-molded mouth guard to ensure a perfect fit that will keep your teeth protected.

Maintain Regular Dental Care

Keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible is the best way to reduce a toothache emergency or emergency tooth extraction. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day. This will help reduce plaque buildup that can lead to tooth decay; and it will reduce signs of gum disease, which can lead to root canal and gum infections. In addition to your daily routine, keep seeing your dentist for regular teeth cleanings and dental examinations. These visits can identify potential problem areas before they become dental emergencies, which will save you a lot of time, pain, and money in the future.

Avoid Chewing Hard Objects

Do not chew on hard objects, like pens and pencils, because you can easily crack a tooth or cut your gums open. When chewing hard foods, such as popcorn, hard bread, or hard candies, be careful to not bite down too hard. These foods can cause a chipped or cracked tooth, which may lead to tooth pain and infection if not corrected.