Preventive dentistry helps your mouth stay clean and healthy. It involves simple practices that you can do at home. If you are unsure what preventive dentistry is and how it helps you, here is an overview.
What is preventive dentistry?
Preventive dentistry keeps your teeth healthy to prevent dental issues such as gum disease, cavities, tooth decay and enamel damage.
Dentists are not the only ones who practice preventive dentistry. As the patient, you work together with the dental team to prevent any oral health problems. Your dental team will recommend a treatment to get your mouth in top condition, then they will provide a maintenance plan for you to follow. It involves regular oral hygiene practices, such as brushing, flossing, and dental cleaning.
Who is preventive dentistry for?
Everyone benefits from preventive dentistry. It should ideally be introduced to children as early as possible, to give their developing adult teeth a healthy start. This also helps them develop healthy habits early on, and is part of the reason why their first dental visit should be a positive experience.
Preventive dentistry also strengthens and maintains the real teeth, so aging adults will not have to use dentures or undergo any dental surgeries.
What are the benefits of preventive dentistry?
Tooth loss is one of the biggest dental concerns in adults. According to grandridgedental.net, gum disease is the major cause of adult tooth loss, and many do not realize they have gum problems until it is in an advanced stage where tooth loss is inevitable. Preventive dentistry promotes dental hygiene to reduce the risk of gum disease and other dental problems, including cavities and periodontitis.
Poor oral health causes secondary problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, dementia, and osteoporosis. It is also linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
Regular brushing and flossing
Brushing your teeth is the most important part of preventive dentistry. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day. Include your tongue in the brushing to remove bacteria and freshen your breath. Toothbrushes should be replaced three to four times every year or when the bristles start to fray.
Daily flossing is also a part of preventive dentistry and cleans out the tight spaces between the teeth. For those who have braces, you need floss threaders to reach between the brackets.
Make sure you are brushing and flossing correctly. In your next appointment, ask the dentist to demonstrate the proper ways to brush and floss, so you can clean your mouth the best you could.
Balanced diet
Your teeth are affected by the food you eat. Eating a balanced diet provides your teeth with the nutrients they need. Drink plenty of water, and eat foods from each of the major food groups to get all the vitamins you need.
Fibers, dairies, and foods with fluoride are especially good for the teeth. Steer clear of sugar because it can cause tooth decay.
A healthy mouth wouldn’t be possible without preventive dentistry. Do it not only for your mouth but also for your overall health.
