Stop These Bad Habits in Order to Avoid a Dental Emergency

Even though your dentist in Lisle offers wonderful emergency care right when you need it, it’s best to avoid that situation in the first place. Not only do these appointments disrupt your life and take time out of your busy day, but they can jeopardize your oral health. For example, knocking out a tooth can put you at risk for further tooth loss and a whole host of other oral health problems. To help you prevent needing to see an emergency dentist, here are some bad oral habits to stay away from.

Using Your Teeth as Tools

Have you ever been unable to open a package or a bottle, so you resorted to using your teeth? Although it can seem harmless, it’s actually severely detrimental to your oral health. Doing this over and over can gradually wear down the enamel of your teeth, weakening them and making them more and more likely to fracture each time. Instead of risking breaking your pearly whites, reach for the scissors or bottle opener.

Smoking or Chewing Tobacco

Research has shown that people who smoke (or chew) tobacco are more than twice as likely as nonsmokers to develop gum disease and oral cancer. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. In addition, oral cancer can frequently be fatal, especially if it isn’t caught early enough. To top it all off, smoking seriously stains your teeth. Do your oral health a favor and put down the cigarette.

Snacking on Sugary Foods

Every time you eat something sugary, bacteria in your mouth feed on that sugar and leave behind an acidic waste product that eats away at your enamel. Your teeth are vulnerable to these acid attacks for about 20 minutes after you eat, so frequently snacking on something sugary keeps your teeth susceptible to painful cavities almost constantly.

Drinking Energy/Sports Drinks

Although these beverages might do a great job at replenishing your energy after a sports game or practice, they also literally bathe your teeth in sugar. Much like snacking on sugary foods, sipping these drinks can easily cause cavities. Hydrate with water instead. Alternatively, you could sip sports/energy drinks through a straw to minimize direct contact with your teeth.

Not Wearing a Mouthguard During Sports

You wouldn’t play football or ride your bike without wearing a helmet to protect your head, would you? Yet, at the same time, many people engage in sports or other physical activities without protecting their teeth from injury. You could buy a mouthguard from most sporting goods stores, but you’re better off asking your dentist to make you a custom one. It will fit you more comfortably and provide more protection.

Even though your dentist in Lisle is open to treating dental emergencies, you’re going to want to avoid that situation as much as possible. Just don’t engage in these habits anymore, and your chances of suffering a dental emergency should decrease significantly.

About the Author

Dr. Frank Marchese has been a dentist in Lisle, IL for more than 30 years and counting. He earned his dental doctorate from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. In addition, he is an alumnus of the prestigious and world-renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. He is a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry and a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. His practice offers emergency care to any patient who may need it. Should you find yourself with a dental emergency, contact Dr. Marchese at 630-969-2310.