Your Edmonton Invisalign® Provider
As we age, our risk for dental emergencies can increase due to our lifestyle, dental and medical history, and other factors. Our dentists in Edmonton explain who's most at risk for a dental emergency, and what actions you can take to mitigate it.
Who is most at risk for a dental emergency?
During our lifetime, we'll face different challenges that leave us at risk for a dental emergency. The truth is that dental emergencies can occur at any time in our lives, due to different causes. In this post, we'll list a few common causes for dental emergencies in children, adults and seniors.
Children
Many children lead active lifestyles. While being physically active is great for their health, some activities present hazards such as sports injuries. They also need to limit sugary snacks, since tooth decay and early cavities can result from indulging in too much candy, chocolate and sugary beverages.
Wearing a custom-made sports mouth guard can prevent serious injuries from blows to the mouth.
From the time the first tooth emerges from the gumline, children should see their dentist regularly and practice excellent at-home oral hygiene to help their teeth develop properly. This will go a long way to building a solid foundation for oral health throughout their lives.
Adults
As we age, our teeth can become discoloured and we can experience decay. That’s why a rigorous at-home oral care routine and regularly scheduled dental appointments are critical to maintaining oral health and keeping cavities, gum disease and other conditions at bay.
Between the ages of 17 and 25, wisdom teeth may also erupt, potentially resulting in a dental emergency if they cause severe tooth pain. Infections in our teeth can also lead to pain and discomfort, and result in urgent visits to the dentist.
Most of these can be prevented or at least minimized by seeing our dentist regularly so he or she can track oral health and any conditions that should be treated. Also remember to brush and floss daily.
Seniors
By the time we reach our golden years, we’ve had a lot of life experience – but also many opportunities for our oral health to decline. After a lifetime of use, our teeth can endure wear and tear.
Grinding can result in jaw pain or TMJ Disorder, and gum disease may advance to the point that the gums begin to recede. This can leave tooth roots exposed - and lead to painful infections or conditions that may result in dental emergencies that need our dentist’s immediate attention.
Many seniors will also need dental implants to deal with certain or conditions or sudden dental emergencies or issues that come up.
No matter what your age, your dentist can assess your oral health and provide a dental risk assessment, taking into account your lifestyle and unique circumstances that may factor in to your overall risk of experiencing a dental emergency.