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Who is most at risk for a dental emergency?
All through our lives, we face different challenges that may leave us at risk for dental emergencies. The truth is that dental emergencies may crop up at anytime.
Here are a few common causes of dental emergencies in adults, seniors, and children.
Children
Children often lead active lifestyles that see them being physically active but also facing hazards such as sports injuries. They also need to watch how many sugary snacks they are eating, as sugar can cause tooth decay and early cavities.
Injuries to your child's teeth caused by blows to their mouth or hard falls can be prevented by wearing a custom-made sports mouthguard.
From the moment their first tooth erupts through their gums, your child will need to see a dentist frequently and maintain a good at-home hygiene routine to ensure that their teeth are able to properly develop. This will help them to build a solid foundation for their lifelong oral health.
Adults
As we grow older, our teeth may become discoloured and we begin to experience tooth decay. Because of this, a rigorous at-home oral hygiene routine and routinely schedule dental appointments are key in maintaining our oral health and keeping our smiles from developing cavities, gum disease and other health issues.
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.
Tooth grinding can result in jaw pain and TMJ disorder. Gum disease can advance to the point where gums start to recede. This can cause the roots of teeth to become exposed and lead to painful infections and conditions that may result in dental emergencies that require immediate dental 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.