Grande Prairie Dentists see their fair share of dental emergencies. With the icy cold winter weather, we regularly anticipate chipped, broken, or knocked out teeth resulting from slips, sports and the rest.
Now you’ll be hard-pressed to find a family dentist in Grande Prairie who will discourage winter sports in the name of dental care! That being said, injuries to the teeth and gums should not be taken lightly and need to be treated immediately.
So what can you do to avoid emergency dentistry? Prevention is key! Here are our top tips for preventing a dental emergency.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine is one of the best ways to avoid a dental emergency. By ensuring that you brush properly and floss everyday, you are helping to keep your mouth clean, healthy, and free of cavities. And when you practice good home care, you make those regular dental visits much easier!
Here at Boisson Family Dentist Grande Prairie, we are very passionate about helping you practice the best home hygiene possible. For that reason, we’ve put together a Cleaning and Prevention section on our site:
https://www.boissondental.ca/grande-prairie-dental-service/cleaning-and-prevention/
Visit Your Grande Prairie Dentist Regularly
Routine dental exams and cleanings allow your dentist to be your partner in oral health. More than a regular teeth cleaning, your dentist will be able to detect signs of cavities, weak points or small chips that could make a prime venue for a dental emergency. When you check in with your family dentist regularly, they get to know you and can make a long-term plan to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Chew Your Food Carefully!
Yes, your teeth are tough, but they are not indestructible. So even though they can be trusted to break down all types of food, be careful! Like any family dentist, Grande Prairie dentists see about as many chipped and cracked teeth resulting from hard candy and popcorn kernels as they do from icy weather slips.
When a tooth gets cracked, even slightly, it makes way for bacteria to gather inside, which can result in pain or even an abscess. So when it comes to foods that feel tough on your teeth, go slow or abstain entirely.
Replace Your Toothbrush Regularly
Any dentist, Grande Prairie-based or otherwise, will insist that you replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months. You can also replace them earlier if you notice that the bristles have worn out. This is important because if the tooth is worn out, it will not clean your teeth properly. Investing in a good toothbrush or toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush will cost a great deal less in the long-run than an emergency dental procedure.
Eat Healthy, Vitamin-Rich Foods
In all areas of health and well-being, ensuring that you are consuming a nutritious diet full of whole, plant-based foods, will go a long way in preventing dental emergencies. An unhealthy diet full of processed foods with a handful of vitamin pills simply won’t cut it. Yup, we’re telling you to eat your veggies.
Diet-derived Vitamin A and B supports healthy gums. Being deficient in these vitamins can cause gingivitis and weaken your body’s ability to fight gum disease. Vitamin C is also good for the immune system and can help reduce the likelihood of developing gum disease.
Grande Prairie dentists like ourselves also recommend Vitamin D supplementation, as the natural sun is hard to come by in the winter months. Vitamin D is actually a seco-steroid and not a vitamin at all! 90% of the cells in your body have receptors for Vitamin D and it helps these cells carry out essential functions, like building strong, healthy bones and enamel.
Avoid Dental Emergencies With Prevention
So that’s it! Eat healthy and chew carefully. Supplement when necessary, especially Vitamin D. Brush your teeth, floss, and change your toothbrush regularly. And finally, see your dentist regularly to avoid any preventable dental emergencies.
Make an appointment today with your family dentist. Grande Prairie is where Boisson Dental Group calls home and we’d love to welcome you to ours.
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