How a Checkup with Your Dentist Can Prevent an Emergency

When you ask someone what their favorite activity is, pretty much no one would say “going to the dentist.” However, it’s still important to go twice a year for your regular checkup and cleaning. Not only does it help your teeth get nice and clean, but it can help prevent dental emergencies and injuries. How does your dentist in Arlington do it? Keep reading to find out.

How Can Your Dentist Prevent a Toothache?

A toothache is one of the most common reasons that people have to make an extra visit to their emergency dentist in Arlington. Toothaches are frequently caused by decay due to poor oral hygiene, which includes skipping out on your dental checkups. These visits give your dentist a chance to help keep toothaches from happening in several ways, including:

• Dental sealants. Bits of food and bacteria can easily get trapped in the grooves and ridges of your molars and cause cavities, especially in young children who might not be able to reach back there to brush yet. Your dentist can apply sealants to protect those vulnerable spots. Sealants consist of a plastic coating that is painted over the chewing surfaces of teeth and protects them against decay. They aren’t limited to children, however. If you’re an adult who is extra susceptible to cavities, ask your dentist about sealants.
• Nightguards. If you wake up with tooth or jaw pain, you might be grinding or clenching your teeth in your sleep. At your checkup, your dentist can recognize the signs of this and prescribe a nightguard, or a customized tray that you wear while you sleep to stop grinding, and the subsequent pain. 
• Gum disease treatment. About four out of every five adults in the U.S. are likely to have gum disease, and odds are they don’t even know it! If your gums and teeth feel sensitive or painful, or you bleed when you brush or floss, you may have gum disease. When left untreated, your tooth pain can worsen until your tooth becomes loose or even falls out!

How Can Your Dentist Prevent a Tooth Injury?  

About 40 percent of all sports injuries are dental. Knocking out or breaking teeth during sports is fairly common, especially if athletes aren’t wearing a mouthguard. If you play contact sports, be sure to talk to your dentist about getting a mouthguard custom-made to protect your unique smile. You could get one from the drugstore, but they tend to be one-size-fits-all, meaning they don’t really fit anybody. Asking your dentist for a mouthguard guarantees that it will fit and provide you with much better protection.

To keep from making emergency trips to your dentist in the future, be sure to make your regular appointments every six months.

About the Author

Dr. Prachi Shah believes that prevention is the best cure when it comes to dental issues. Her goal is to make sure each and every one of her patients in the Arlington, TX community has a healthy smile for life, and that starts with attending regular checkups. To book yours, visit her website or call (817)-860-2222.