How To Prevent Dental Abscesses

Preventative dentistry can help avoid a wide variety of painful and expensive issues later on down the road. It is the most important thing you can do for your oral health. Why else do you think you literally learn in elementary school how to brush your teeth and use fluoride regularly? It is an important part of overall health. A lack of preventative dentistry can lead to a dental abscess which can be a very severe health condition. Preventive dental care should be the main goal of your dentist and therefore your family.

Gaps in dental and health insurance lead patients without coverage to seek help in emergency rooms. Emergency rooms are required to treat without prior payment. Approximately 2% of ER visits every year are dental-related, and more than half of those visits were diagnosed as dental abscesses. Depending on the severity, most of these patients end up needing antibiotic infusions to avoid a more life-threatening spread of infection.

Regular Brushing and Flossing

Even though your dentist makes a living off of your teeth needing to be cared for, they spend a lot of time educating their patients on how to take care of their teeth and prevent disease. The best way to prevent oral problems is to brush twice a day and floss once a day. These methods prevent build-up on teeth and in between the teeth. Leftover food particles attract bacteria, and bacteria can lead to an infection or dental abscess.

Diet

Sugar is detrimental to oral health because sugar sticks to teeth. Once it sticks to the teeth, tooth decay is accelerated. While you do not need to eliminate all sugar from your diet, it is wise to avoid sugary drinks and keep the soda intake to a minimum. Specifically sticky sugary food that stays in your mouth for long periods of time is something to steer clear of. Try to look for sugar-free gum if you are a regular gum chewer.

Regular Dental Visits

A good dentist should teach good brushing techniques, promote the use of mouthguards in sports to protect those pearly whites, give recommendations for over-the-counter products such as brushes, mouthwash, and toothpaste. During your dental visit, your dentist should conduct a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and mouth. Your teeth should be thoroughly cleaned and x-rays should be done at least once a year.

Where to Look for Help

All of these things combined will not entirely guarantee that you will never suffer from a dental abscess, but it is a way to know that you did everything in your power to prevent one from happening. Consequently, all of these preventive measures for abscess should also prevent most other oral complications. If you are in search of a quality dentist for you and your family or need help addressing a dental abscess or other dental problem, consider a dentist in Sugarland, Texas. With his years of experience, he can care for you and your family and give you the education you need to improve your oral health in the future.