It’s no secret that staying active keeps your heart healthy, as regular exercise lowers the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. You may not realize oral health keeps your heart and the rest of your body running its best. Bacteria and inflammation associated with gum disease is also associated with heart disease, difficult-to-control diabetes and other chronic conditions.

Untreated gum disease can produce symptoms that are so disruptive you may need to call the Smile Center outside of regular business hours. As a 24-hour emergency dental care provider in Buffalo NY, Dr. Gordon Kent welcomes your calls as he and his team want to get you out of pain and on the road to recovery in no time. Plus, the longer you go without treatment, the greater your odds of developing serious complications such as a systemic infection or abscess.

Conditions that require emergency dental treatment may result from the very sport or activity that keeps your body healthy. The National Youth Sports Foundation reports 15 million people suffer dental injuries each year, with 5 million teeth lost to sports-related injuries. Athletes, in a single season, have a 1 in 10 chance of suffering an injury to the face or teeth. The lifetime odds of developing a sports-related dental injury is almost 1 in 2.

Since these injuries occur so frequently, the trusted Smile Center team plays a vital role in promptly treating this type of trauma and monitoring healing. A knocked-out tooth that the dentist has placed back in the socket is rejected by your body in some cases as a defense mechanism. The tooth root can dissolve or resorb, which underscores the need for Dr. Kent to examine the treated area at regular intervals to make sure roots don’t resorb and that surrounding tissues are healing properly.

The team wants to work with you to prevent these injuries from occurring in the first place. It is always far easier to be in a proactive position and prevent conditions than to be reactive and responsive to an existing problem.

To avoid the need for extraction, it’s important to have even the most seemingly minor dental injury evaluated without delay. For example, sometimes nearby teeth suffer injuries that might otherwise go unnoticed without professional detection. There is a greater chance of complications such as root resorption should a dislodged tooth not be handled properly and tended to quickly.

Preventive measures include:

• A properly-fitted custom mouthguard that adequately covers the teeth, arch, and surrounding tissues
• A dental kit with items like Save-a-Tooth™ preserving solution, sterile gauze, a spare commercial mouthguard, and penlight

Keep the Smile Center number handy. Call in the event of an accident. It may also be time to schedule a check-up so the doctor can discuss protective dental appliances and other measures, and can check your overall oral health to prevent emergencies not caused by activities on the field or at the rink.