A Pain in the Mouth
It’s hard not to fall for fall with the changing colors and cooler weather, but don’t fall too hard! Dental injuries are a serious pain in the mouth. Predicting them is impossible as it could happen tomorrow, next week, or even never at all. You never know what kind of situations could be lurking around this fall, but you can take action by knowing how to handle a dental injury should it actually happen to you.
Preparing for the Unexpected in Dental Injuries
Cracked teeth, chipped teeth, broken teeth, and even knocked out teeth, oh my! It’s like we are in a Dr. Suess book! From falling down to sports to biting down on something hard, an unexpected accident can happen at any given time and cause damage to your mouth. When you’re involved in a situation like this, do your best to remain calm and take deep breaths. Although it can be uncomfortable and shocking depending on the injury, this step is important so that you can take good care of yourself. Breathe in, breathe out. Just think about the beautiful autumn leaves!
Your Mouth Needs Some Love After That Fall
Dental injuries are troublesome and sometimes leave you feeling out-of-sorts because it can happen so fast. Whatever situation you’re in, remove yourself so that you can care for the dental injury. Clean the site to the best of your ability and rinse with warm water. If you do notice bleeding, try out some gauze or a clean towel to put a stop to it, and use an ice pack for any discomfort or swelling. Dental wax is a good option too to keep your tongue and cheek protected against any sharp edges from chipped teeth. By making sure all immediate concerns are addressed, you’ll be all set to tackle the next steps in handling your dental injury.
Ignorance is The Opposite of Bliss
Do not ignore dental injuries! Let us repeat that. Do not ignore dental injuries! It’s easy to get caught up in the idea to just “walk it off.” It’s convenient, and we’d all like to think that things will be just fine if we ignore what just happened. Think again. We’re begging you. Even if you get cleaned up and feel a little better, it is still so important to reach out to a dentist for an appointment. Sometimes problems cannot be noticed on the surface. Internal problems in the tooth’s pulp and roots can lead to an unwanted infection. Even if your tooth is knocked out completely, this can be problematic for surrounding teeth. The moral of the story? Problems can only get worse when ignored. Face this head on, and make sure you’re giving your dentist a ring, ring, ring.
Preventing the Unexpected
Sometimes life just happens. Dental injuries certainly cannot always be prevented, but sometimes they can. A tooth injury caused by sports, for example, can largely be prevented with help from a dental mouthguard. These devices are often worn during sports where facial and mouth injuries are more likely to occur. It’s far more affordable to get a mouthguard than it is to replace a tooth. Dentists can even get you a custom-fit mouth guard so that it fits comfortably and well in the mouth. Plus, they often provide the best protection as opposed to mouthguards from the store.
A Few Other Fall-ish Accidents to Beware
Keep in mind that fall is a big season to bring out the hard candy. It’s tempting to bite down on hard candy when it’s so tasty in our mouths but prevent yourself from doing so. A lot of dental injuries happen from biting down on hard foods like candy or even ice cubes. Additionally, with the chilly weather, you might find yourself tensing more. Increased muscle tension could lead to tooth grinding during the night or day, which spells danger for your teeth. A dental night guard helps keep your teeth safe if you’re accustomed to grinding your teeth.
If you or your active kiddo is in need of a mouthguard or night guard for dental injury protection, reach out to us today.
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It’s a timely and provides valuable information for people who may experience dental injuries during the fall season.