Oral injuries and dental trauma can happen in your mouth just like any other part of your body. There are a few things you can do or habits to develop to help reduce the chances of a dental emergency happening.
Try to avoid using your teeth as tools for biting things, like string or opening plastic bags. You should also avoid chewing hard objects like ice, partially popped popcorn and hard candy. These things can cause extreme pressure to your teeth and cause a fracture or crack.
If you have braces you should not chew gum or sticky foods. It’s also a good idea to keep some orthodontic wax on hand. If you do damage a wire or a bracket on your braces, you can cover it with the wax to keep from injuring your cheek.
A custom mouth guard is a worthwhile investment if you are participating in contact sports or other rigorous athletic activities where you might take a blow to the head or face. Your dentist can easily fit you for a mouth guard designed for comfortable easy breathing and maximum protection for your teeth. This is absolutely critical for athletes with braces!
If you grind your teeth at night you might want to consider getting a night guard. Long term teeth grinding can wear down surfaces on your teeth making them prone to fractures, chips and cracks.
If you have questions regarding things you can do to reduce the chances of suffering an oral injury or dental emergency, please feel free to call us at 228-388-9551 to set up an appointment.