Dealing with Dental Emergencies

March 7, 2014

Dental accidents and emergencies can happen any time of the day. Knowing how to deal with some of the most common dental emergencies can often mean the difference between losing and saving your tooth.

It’s important to note that in case of any dental accident or emergency , you should visit your South Carolina dentist immediately or go to an emergency clinic as soon as possible. Do not take your injuries for granted because they may actually lead to more serious problems.

Common Causes of Dental Emergencies

Accidental injury is usually the cause of dental emergencies. For young children, accidents can happen while playing or when they are exploring the home out of curiosity. For older children and teenagers, they could get injured while playing sports especially contact sports like martial arts, basketball, or soccer.

As for adults, the nature of one’s work can increase the risk of having dental injuries such as people working in factories. Other accidents may include slipping, driving accidents, or accidents during a trip or while doing sports.

Aside from accidents, postponing your dental checkups can also be a cause of dental emergencies. If you skip treatments or you don’t go to regular cleaning and checkups at your South Carolina dentist, you increase the likelihood of getting permanent damage on your teeth. Timely treatment is important for damage control and to save yourself from expensive and complicated dental procedures in the future.

What You Can Do to Prevent Dental Accidents

Though not totally avoidable, there are a few things you can to do protect yourself from dental accidents and consequently from ending up in an emergency room:

• If you play contact spots, wear a good quality mouth guard. You can even ask your South Carolina dentist for a custom-made one that will have a better fit to your teeth.

• Avoid grinding your teeth, chewing ice and other hard foods that can cause breaks or cracks on your teeth.

• Do not use your teeth for opening cola bottles, snack bags, or tearing open packages. Get scissors for that.

For all your dental emergencies, please contact Total Dental Care of South Carolina at 803-272-4162.

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