Cracked teeth can be extremely painful, expensive to repair, and quite the experience for both kids and teenagers alike. However, the good news is that it’s possible to help children in the Yuba City area protect their teeth from chips and cracks even when they are very young. If an accident does happen, Smile Zone is here as your go-to emergency pediatric dentist.
Simple Tips to Help Your Child Avoid a Cracked Tooth
Following these tips from Yuba City’s Smile Zone will help your child avoid the painful situation of a cracked tooth.
Don’t chew on hard foods.
Ice may be the worst culprit, but other hard food and candies such as lollipops, nuts, unpopped popcorn, jerky, jawbreakers, taffy, and hard candies can easily damage a tooth or two.
Stone fruits such as cherries, peaches, plums, and even olives can also be deceiving if children bite into them and don’t realize they have hard pits inside.
Don’t use your teeth to do things other than eating.
Trying to crack nut shells with your teeth, chewing on pans, opening plastic bottle caps, or ripping tags off of clothing can damage teeth. A seemingly insignificant moment can turn into an emergency situation. Explain this to children so they can learn to avoid the practice of using their teeth as tools.
Avoid grinding your teeth.
Teach your children ways to manage stress that do not involve grinding their teeth or chewing on other objects for comfort. If your child clenches their jaw or grinds their teeth during the daytime or while sleeping, they may experience headaches, jaw pain, and worn down teeth that may eventually need crowns.
Your children should become aware of when they are grinding their teeth so that they can stop. If they only do it at night, talk to the experts here at Smile Zone. We can recommend a suitable night guard that can protect their teeth from grinding during the night.
Wear a mouthguard.
Sports and other physical activity such as soccer, football, wrestling, gymnastics, and skiing or snowboarding can cause tooth damage in children and teens. Whether they are hit in the mouth with a soccer ball or fall onto a gymnastics beam, encouraging the use of a mouthguard can be a safety net to avoid broken teeth. If you teach your child this habit early, it is likely to become one that sticks.
Schedule regular cleanings and checkups.
At Smile Zone, we are experienced at finding small problems or noticing preexisting conditions that may make your child predisposed to damaged or cracked teeth. If they have small cracks, uneven chewing surfaces, or damage due to subconscious nighttime grinding, we can alert you to these emerging problems that you may not be aware of.
We will work to fix these issues before more serious damage occurs. By being proactive you can save money, time, and discomfort for you and your child.
Emergency Pediatric Dentist
If your child has already cracked a tooth and you are looking for an emergency pediatric dentist in Yuba City or the surrounding areas, call Smile Zone right away or walk right in!
We can provide advanced pediatric dentistry along with pain management to make sure your child gets the help they need. When you bring your child to Smile Zone during a pediatric dental emergency, our staff will work with you, the parent, to keep your child calm and provide comfort and stress relief during the repair process.
Flexible Appointments
Because we cater to busy families, we offer early morning, late evening, and weekend appointments when you need them. Give us a call at (530) 230-0081 today. Our pediatric dental office is located at 718 W. Onstott Frontage Rd. in Yuba City, California. We accept most insurance plans and welcome emergency walk-in patients.
At Smile Zone, we serve all ages of kids and teenagers with advanced pediatric dentistry services and provide a safe and caring dental environment. Our trained staff members are excellent at giving our young patients a fun, interactive, and positive experience.
Comments