Your Dentist in Renton Says Doing This Can Lead to a Dental Emergency!

It’s safe to say that nobody wakes up thinking, “I hope I have an emergency today.” Still though, these situations can materialize – it’s just a fact of life. When it comes to your oral health, though, what if you could prevent a great deal of emergencies from happening? Your dentist in Renton says you can, which is why he’s weighing in with information on how your food consumption and usage of your mouth can play a role in whether you have a dental emergency.

What is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is a situation that causes a sudden decline in your oral health. It could involve extreme pain, a laceration, break, chip, decay or dislodging of a tooth.

If you find yourself thrust into one of these situations, there are two things to keep in mind:

• Don’t panic. As cliché as that sounds, it’s a must because a panicked mind makes mistakes.
• After you gather your thoughts, reach out to your emergency dentist so that you can get the treatment you need as soon as possible.

These Habits Could Lead to a Dental Emergency

Here are some of the habits that can bring on an emergency by causing a sudden problem with your teeth or soft tissues:

• Hard Foods – Eating hard foods like certain nuts, seeds or corn kernels can cause your teeth to break.
• Ice – It’s best that you avoid eating any ice. Although your teeth are covered with enamel – the hardest substance in your body – they are still vulnerable to breaking when they make contact with another hard substance like ice.
• Biting Your Nails – Equally detrimental is biting your nails. They are composed of a hard substance that your teeth were not created to bite down on. Some people may do this as a response to anxiety. It’s best, then, to seek alternative methods for dealing with stressors through channels like meditation or a new fitness regimen.
• Grinding Your Teeth (Bruxism) – Another habit that’s generally related to stress, bruxism can wear down the enamel on your teeth and eventually lead to an emergent situation where one or more of them break. You can seek the alternative methods for stress alleviation mentioned above. If you have a problem with grinding your teeth while you sleep, you can talk to your dentist about being fitted with a mouthguard.

Attaining and maintaining excellent oral health is a concerted effort. By avoiding the habits above referenced, you are taking a step in the right direction and removing one more item from your list of worries.

To learn about other ways to enhance your dental health, reach out to your local dentist and schedule a consultation today.

About the Author

Dr. Sam DK Kim is a military veteran and dentist who has devoted most of his life to helping others. After earning his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, he went on to complete a 3-year program in prosthodontics from NOVA Southeastern University in Florida. Dr. Kim practices at SDK Dental Care and can be reached for more information through his website.