Dental Tips for All Ages
Second in a three-part series on dental emergencies
A large percentage of dental emergencies are preventable. A few simple precautions significantly reduce the risk of tooth injuries, severe pain, and costly dental treatment. Prevention looks different at every stage of life, because the risks vary as we age. The first article in this series discussed the most common dental injuries by age group. This second installment focuses on practical steps that can protect oral health and reduce the likelihood of dental emergencies in children, teens, adults, and seniors.
Prevent Dental Injuries in Children
Young children spend a lot of their time running, climbing, and exploring. These activities promote healthy growth and development, but also increase the likelihood of dental injuries. Parents can reduce dental injury risks by:
- Childproof the home so that little ones have a safe space to move and play.
- Supervise playground activities.
- Ensure use of protective equipment, such as mouthguards and faceguards, during organized sports.
- Promote good dental hygiene.
- Schedule dental visits regularly.
Preventing dental injuries requires awareness of your child’s activities and limitations. For those that participate in organized sports, we must emphasize that only customized mouthguards provide the best protection. You can schedule a consultation to make a mouthguard during a regular dental visit or by contacting our office during standard business hours.
Additionally, the importance of brushing and flossing daily can’t be emphasized enough, as habits established early in life create a strong foundation for long-term oral health. Routine dental visits also play an important role in preserving oral health. Regular exams identify cavities and other developing problems before they cause pain or infection.
Teenagers Can Avoid Dental Emergencies
Teenagers are subject to various risk factors associated with sports and recreational activities, as well as undergoing orthodontic treatment. Peer pressure can lead to bad decisions. Social media promotes unwise challenges and myths. Childhood curiosity and testing personal limits can result in accidents that have dental consequences. Snacks and drinks are marketed specifically to teens without concern for the absence of nutritional value. Here are some of the things that parents can do to help their teens avoid the consequences of these influences.
As mentioned in connection with little children, custom mouthguards are the best option available for preventing fractured, broken, and avulsed teeth from contact sports. They are also a helpful part of the protective equipment for mountain biking, skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, and mountain climbing. Many of these sports require expensive equipment, but all of it is easily replaced. Teeth cannot be restored so easily.
For teens with braces, there are certain food choices that often damage their appliances. It is recommended that teens avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods that commonly damage orthodontic brackets and wires. Following orthodontic instructions carefully reduces the risk of emergency visits to the dentist. (You can also simply use clear aligners instead of traditional braces, but this type of orthodontic therapy requires a teenager dedicated to to their treatment regimen.)
Maintaining proper oral hygiene continues to be crucial for teenagers. Brushing and flossing daily prevents cavities, gum disease and infections that lead to emergency visits to the dentist. Encouraging a healthy diet by carefully choosing the foods and drinks you bring into your home plays a large role in avoiding dental problems.
Prevention Strategies for Adults
Unfortunately, numerous dental emergency situations experienced by adults are the result of neglecting previously diagnosed conditions. While economics may prevent immediate treatment, dental problems only tend to get worse and more costly to treat if ignored. Here are strategies that minimize the likelihood of major dental problems:
- Regular dental checkups allow dentists to detect issues before they become painful emergencies.
- Adults who grind or clench their teeth often benefit from a relatively inexpensive custom nightguard. This simple appliance protects teeth from excessive pressure and reduces the risk of tooth fractures and loss.
- Avoid bad oral habits such as chewing ice, biting hard objects, or using teeth as tools lowers the risk of cracked enamel, lacerated oral tissues, and broken dental restorations.
Daily brushing, flossing, and at least semi-annual professional cleanings remain the most effective defenses against tooth decay and gum disease, the leading factors in toothaches, root canal treatment, and tooth loss.
Protecting Oral Health as a Senior
As people age, oral health requires additional attention. Seniors often experience the breakdown of existing restorations after years of use. Dry mouth is a common complication of prescription medications. Lower saliva levels and thinning enamel often leads to cavities and toothaches. Here are ways to decrease the probability that you need emergency dental treatment as a senior:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Practice good oral hygiene habits.
- Schedule regular dental appointments at the frequency recommended by your dentist (some patients benefit from visits every four months, instead of the usual six month interval).
- Continuously monitor and maintain current restorations such as dentures, bridges, crowns, and implants.
Proactive care helps seniors to maintain comfort, function, and confidence in their dental health while minimizing the chance of emergency dental situations.
Injury Prevention Begins with Professional Dental Care
At the Placerville Dental Group, we understand that accidents cannot always be avoided. Recognizing dental risks and proactively working to reduce these risks is important at every age. Professional preventive dental care significantly reduces the risk of many common emergency dental treatments. Regular dental examinations, professional cleanings, and applying personalized recommendations from our Placerville dentists lends protection to your smile at every age. Schedule your next visit with the Placerville Dental Group to protect your oral health and reduce your risk of unexpected dental treatment!
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