Avoid Dental Emergencies

Nothing is worse than having a cracked or broken tooth interrupt your holiday plans. This year you can take care of problems ahead of time to decrease the risk of having problems when you want to be with family. Here are 5 tips to helping you stay out of the dentist's office with an emergency this Holiday Season.

1. Get problems taken care of. If you have a tooth that is bothering you or is cracked or broken schedules your appointment now.
2. Brush and floss regularly. This is a great way not only to keep your smile healthy but also to cut down on problems.
3. Don’t use your teeth as tools. If you are opening packages or using your teeth as tools you run a higher risk of damaging the structure of your teeth.
4. Don’t chew on ice. Cracked and broken teeth can happen when the enamel on your teeth is weakened. Chewing on ice can cause problems you don’t need.
5. Use a mouthguard. If you and your family get together over the holidays and play a little ball, street hockey or football, protect your smile with a mouthguard.

• more information on avoiding dental catastrophes over the holiday break, contact Dr. Judy Strutz and her team.

Protect Your Teeth With A Mouthguard for Bruxism

Bruxism is also known as grinding. When someone bites down and moves the surface of their upper teeth across the surface of their lower teeth it is called Bruxism, or grinding and it can be very damaging to your smile. While you may be inclined to run to the store and find the cheapest mouthguard you can, getting one from the dentist that is a proper fit is a better and safer idea.

Having a proper fitting mouthguard can ensure that your airway stays open properly when you are sleeping. Having a mouthguard that is too big can cause problems breathing and one that is too small may not prevent you from grinding your teeth.

A proper fitting mouthguard can also ensure that it is giving you the right protection. If you have a mouthguard that doesn’t fit your smile, you may still be grinding different surfaces causing damage that breaks or cracks one of your teeth. It can seem like a great idea to get a cheaper one from any store, but having a proper fitting mouthguard will better in the long run.

For more information on Bruxism and mouthguards, contact Dr. Strutz and her fantastic dental team.