Simple Habits to Adopt That Can Help Prevent Oral Injuries

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Many oral injuries and dental emergencies have serious consequences. Your dentist, Dr. Mark Andrews, recommends making a few lifestyle changes that can help you prevent most common oral injuries. At the very least, being apprised of these things will help you be better prepared should a problem occur.

You should actively work on breaking bad habits like chewing on pens and pencils or crunching on ice. This also extends to using your teeth as tools. These things can cause chips, cracks, and fractures in tooth enamel.

If you are an athlete participating in rigorous athletic activities, you need to use a quality mouthguard.

Grinding your teeth at night can also pose a number of threats to your oral health. It could result in chips and fractures on the biting surfaces of your teeth. It could even cause TMJ disorder in the joints that hinge your mouth. In some cases, stress relief techniques or using a night guard when you sleep can help.

It’s also wise to stock your first-aid kit with a few common oral health care items like waxed floss, salt packets, and topical oral analgesic. Keeping these items readily at hand will help you be prepared for some common oral emergencies.

If you have questions about how to prevent or prepare for common oral emergencies in Kirkland, Washington, you can always call our office at 425-821-8100 to seek further advice.