Preventive Dental Care

Entering a new year is used by many people as an opportunity to leave behind old, negative behavior patterns and form some good, new habits. Many people even make dental resolutions to improve their dental hygiene and maintenance as a way of preventing the need for costly dental work in the future.

Most of the ways that you can improve your oral care involve general dentistry. Of course, if your teeth are already in good shape, you might want to splurge on a cosmetic dentistry treatment. Most people make resolutions involving preventative dental care.

To start, it might be a good idea to take a second look at how you are caring for your teeth at home. Are you regularly brushing and flossing? Are you experiencing some symptoms that may indicate tooth decay that you have been putting off? No matter the case, it’s never a bad idea to re-examine your habits at home to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. 

• Brush your teeth at least twice daily.
• Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove trapped food particles from between your teeth.
• If away from home, rinse your mouth out with water following every meal and snack.
  

Your teeth are only as clean as your toothbrush can make them. If your brush has seen significant wear and tear, go ahead and replace it, particularly if you notice frayed bristles. You should also replace your toothbrush if it is older than three or four months. This is an easy way to maintain Preventive Dental Care.

There is a close relationship between the foods that you eat and your oral health. If you are constantly drinking sodas all the time, your teeth may suffer for it. This is because sodas contain both a high amount of sugar and a large amount of acidity. The sugar in the sodas feed oral bacteria that damage the teeth, while the acidity can strip the outer tooth enamel away from teeth, making them more susceptible to tooth decay.

Have you been keeping up with your dental exam and cleaning appointments? Besides Preventive Dental Care at home, maintaining these important appointments give you your best chance of preventing tooth decay and gum disease.

At a typical dental exam, your hygienist will examine your mouth for signs of trouble like tooth decay, gum disease, and even oral cancer. If any issues are brought to light, they will bring your dentist in for a closer look. 

If everything checked out okay with your exam, your dental hygienist will begin the cleaning part of the appointment by scraping away tartar and plaque from your teeth using specialized dental tools. Next, they will floss your teeth and polish them for a nice, smooth finish.

If you have any questions about Preventive Dental Care, or would like to schedule a dental exam and cleaning appointment, contact us today. New patients are welcome.