Avoid These 7 Holiday Dental Emergencies
Holidays should be about fun, food, and friends, not suffering from a toothache or wondering what to do about a lost crown. At the San Ramon, CA, family dental office of Dr. Carol Jin, DDS, we know that regular dental care can help you avoid many of these painful situations, but accidents do happen.
Here are just a few tips and tricks to help you avoid 7 of the most common holiday dental emergencies.
- Toothache
- A Knocked-Out Tooth
- Chipped Or Broken Tooth
- A Lost Crown Or Filling
- Tooth Abscess Or Infection
- Broken Orthodontics
- An Unexpectedly Loose Tooth
1. Routine Care Helps Prevent Toothaches
A toothache can be a sign of decay or worse. A mouthwash or a warm saltwater rinse can safely clean the area around sore teeth. A cold compress may also provide some relief.
Daily flossing, brushing, and regular dental cleanings will reduce the chance of this holiday crisis.
2. It’s All Fun & Games Until Someone Loses A Tooth
Fun and games are a regular part of getting together with family and friends, especially for children and active adults. Unfortunately, a missed catch or accidental fall can cause a host of dental injuries – including tooth loss.
Protect your smile this holiday season. Be aware of your surroundings and wear a mouth guard when going out to play sports.
3. Watch Out For Chipped Teeth!
Nuts, ginger snaps, and hard candies are in tempting abundance every holiday. Know your limits, make good choices, and use a real nutcracker. To avoid a chipped or broken tooth, skip the hard candy, don’t chew your ice, and leave the popcorn kernels in the bowl.
4. Keep An Eye On Those Crowns This Christmas
A lost crown or filling can affect your smile and confidence, and also exposes your tooth to decay and bacterial infection. If you start to feel any wiggle or looseness to your dental work, inform your dentist and get it taken care of. It’s better to visit our dental office for a replacement right away, than to get caught off guard during your winter festivities.
5. Tooth Abscess & Infection Are Avoidable
An abscess is a bacterial infection around your tooth that causes swelling and pain. Thankfully, good dental hygiene minimizes the chances of these types of infections. Don’t risk showing up to the office party with a swollen cheek and painful mouth.
Make and keep your biannual dental checkups, even around the holidays.
6. Avoid Orthodontic Emergencies
Braces are hardy and can take a lot of abuse. Because they go through subtle changes as we chew and our teeth grow. To avoid broken braces during the holidays, keep up with your scheduled orthodontic adjustments and let your dentist know about any changes you’ve noticed or wiggly brackets if you’re concerned between orthodontic visits.
7. Pay Attention To Loose Teeth
To avoid a missing tooth, you’ll want to start by paying attention to any loose teeth. Sometimes a loose permanent tooth is harmless, like during pregnancy. Other times those wiggly chompers can indicate underlying health issues or be a sign of gum disease.
The best way to prevent worry over a loose tooth over the holidays is to keep up with good oral care and see a dentist if the problem persists.
Prevent Holiday Dental Emergencies In San Ramon
As you can see, many of these common dental emergencies are preventable with good at-home care and regular visits to your family dentist. Schedule your visit with Dr. Carol Jin, DDS, at our San Ramon, CA dental office today.
If you need an emergency dentist in the San Ramon area this holiday season, give us a call, so you can get back to enjoying your special occasions.