Preventing an Oral Emergency

The first step is to work on breaking bad habits, such as chewing on inedible objects, crunching ice with your teeth, or using your teeth as tools for opening packages and the like. Any of these things may lead to dental fractures or cause other damage to your tooth enamel.

If you play contact sports or participate in high-risk adventures, you may also strongly consider using a quality mouth guard. If you’re uncomfortable with the units sold in stores, Dr. Rafael A. Perez might be able to fit you with a custom mouth guard at his Wichita Falls, Texas clinic.

Unresolved stress can mean that you grind your teeth at night, which can, in turn, create other oral health issues. In time may create chips or fractures on the biting surfaces of your teeth. It may even contribute to TMJ disorder

If stress relief fails to resolve your night-grinding problems, you may want to wear a dental guard while you sleep. This can cushion your teeth and reduce the chances of a cracked tooth, while also offering relief to the tension on the joints of your jaw.

Tobacco use can pose a significant threat to your oral health. Even in the short term, it can affect gum health and stain tooth enamel. In the long-term, tobacco use greatly increases your chances of suffering oral and pharyngeal cancer.

To prepare for any emergency, it would be wise to stock your first aid kit with a few common oral healthcare items such as waxed floss, salt packets, and topical oral analgesic.

If you live in the Wichita Falls, Texas area and you have further questions about how to prevent oral problems, you can always call 940-692-2851 to speak to a member of Stone Lake Dental’s staff.