Preventing Tooth and Mouth Injuries with Help from Our Family Dentistry Office

As accidents go, tooth and mouth injuries occur more often than you think. Even with proper protection, a small mishap can lead to an injury.

Preventing an injury is less painful and costly than treating one. You should take measures to protect your mouth during risky situations or athletic events.

How to prevent tooth and mouth injuries

Here are a few ways to prevent tooth and mouth injuries during daily life.

Use protective sports gear

Accidents can happen during a sporting event, which is why all players should wear protective gear during practice and a game. People that play hockey or football and those who wrestle and know just how helpful it is to wear a mouth guard or helmet.

If you or your children play a contact sport, it is a must to wear the appropriate protective gear. Even for non-contact sports, like soccer and tennis, wearing a mouth guard can keep your teeth safe if you fall or get hit with the ball.

Wear a mouth guard or a retainer at night

Many people grind their teeth and do not know it. There are others who bite their inner cheeks or tongue in their sleep. These problems are often the result of a clenched jaw caused by a bad bite or stress.

A constantly clenched jaw will cause cracked or worn out teeth. It could also cause injury to the soft tissues of the mouth, which can result in open wounds and infection.

Wearing mouth guard at night will keep the jaw from clenching. It will stop any grinding or biting that could damage your teeth or cause jaw soreness.

Do not ignore painful, uncomfortable orthodontic devices or dentures

Sometimes the items that are supposed to align or replace the teeth can cause injury, soreness and pain. When they fit wrong, braces, retainers and dentures can damage the soft tissues of the mouth. In extreme cases, a person will develop ulcers or infections because of the devices.

If your device causes tooth and mouth injuries, do not ignore the pain or stop using the device. Visit the dentist for an adjustment or replacement at the very first sign of discomfort.

Keep a close eye on little children

In the blink of an eye, a toddler could hit their mouth on a table or stick some object in their gums. To prevent such things from happening, parents should childproof their home and keep small objects out of the reach of small children.

Check your child’s toys for signs of chewing or biting. If necessary, remove hard plastic toys and leave behind soft, plush items that will not damage teeth.

What to do when accidents occur?

Some accidents are unavoidable, but you can minimize the chances of having to make an emergency visit to the dentist if you take precautions.

That said, if you ever need help with tooth and mouth injuries, visit our family dentistry practice for prompt, reliable care.

Request an appointment here: https://smilesonmichigan.com or call Smiles On Michigan at (312) 509-9492 for an appointment in our Chicago office.

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