Accidents and injuries to your teeth and/or gums can occur when you least expect it. Damage can occur to your teeth, gums, cheek, tongue, and lips. Although they are unpredictable, many injuries are avoidable.
If you are going to be playing sports or participating in recreational activities, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and gums from impact. This is especially important during activities with a lot of physical contact or where movements are unpredictable. Avoid chewing ice or hard candy, or foods such as popcorn kernels and bones. These items can chip or fracture your teeth or cause you to bite your tongue, lips, or cheek.
Avoid using your mouth in place of your hands when doing certain tasks such as cutting tape or opening bottles. Your teeth should never be used if your hands are occupied. Dental accidents can still occur no matter how cautious you are, so knowing what to do during a dental emergency is very important.
Time is always a key factor during an emergency because it can mean the difference between saving your tooth or losing it. If you have a dental emergency, get to our office immediately to be seen by one of our cosmetic dentists. We treat numerous dental and oral emergencies and can work hard to save your tooth after an accident. For a list of what to do during specific dental emergencies, click HERE.
