Preventive Dentistry: What Is Preventive Dental Care?
The habit of caring for your teeth intending to keep them healthy is called preventive dentistry. Preventive dental care helps avoid issues like cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, et cetera.
Preventive dentistry exists in many forms, including everyday brushing and dental cleanings. The American Dental Association recommends regular visits to your dentist as determined by the professional to keep your dental health in optimal condition. The practices are to ensure your teeth are clean, strong, and pearly white. Children must also receive education or oral hygiene early in life.
Please continue reading to learn more about what you must do to keep your teeth healthy.
What Are the Procedures of Preventive Dentistry
Premier Family Dentistry recommends the following practices for healthy teeth.
Everyday Brushing without Exceptions
The most significant part of preventive dentistry is to brush your teeth twice every day using fluoride toothpaste authenticated by the ADA. In addition, you must replace your toothbrush at least 3 to 4 times every year or whenever the bristles start fraying. When brushing your teeth, pay attention to your tongue, which is a breeding ground for bacteria. Brushing your tongue helps eliminate the bacteria and freshen your breath.
Flossing Everyday
The dental practice mentioned above makes recommendations for flossing every day to clean out the tight spaces between your teeth. If you are wearing braces are you can consider using floss threaders to clean between the metal brackets. If you intend to benefit the most from flossing, you must ensure you are using this tool correctly. During your next dental appointment, ask the dentist from preventive dentistry in Peabody, MA, for a quick flossing demonstration to ensure you are getting maximum benefits from this tool.
Six Monthly Dental Visits
You must schedule visits to your dentist at least once in 12 months to identify any problems with your teeth and gums. If you are at high risk of dental issues, you benefit from frequent dental visits every six months. However, if you don’t have any chances for dental problems, you can witness similar benefits from merely one cleaning every year. Dental exams and cleanings enable dentists to detect problems in your mouth and take care of them immediately. If you possess dental insurance, look through the papers carefully because most dental insurers cover two preventive dentistry visits every year. Therefore you won’t have to spend any money when visiting the dentist.
Having a Balanced Right
Your teeth need nutrients which you can provide by having a balanced diet. The diet you choose also helps protect your teeth significantly if you limit your sugar intake, including simple carbohydrates like white bread, and drink plenty of water every day instead of other beverages. Oral health also benefits from vitamins you get when you have a varied diet helping you maintain a healthy smile.
How does preventive dentistry help you?
Preventive dental treatment helps prevent dental problems later. When you couple preventive dentistry with the proper dental care, you avoid or lessen the effects of cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, enamel loss, et cetera.
Who Does Preventive Dentistry Benefit?
Preventive dentistry is beneficial for everyone. Children specifically benefit the most as it allows their newly emerging permanent teeth to erupt robust and healthy. Topical fluoride and dental sealants help prevent tooth decay and cavities in your child’s teeth. Aging adults also benefit from preventive dentistry because it allows them to maintain their natural teeth. Your oral health has an association with your overall health. It is because your mouth is a breeding ground for harmful microorganisms. Therefore when you maintain a clean mouth, it automatically benefits your overall health.
Benefits of Preventive Dentistry Explained
Maintaining excellent dental hygiene significantly reduces your risk of developing cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, and many other dental problems. In addition, the prevention by itself proves beneficial because it reduces the chances of developing secondary problems because of poor oral hygiene. Some health issues associated with your oral health are diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, respiratory disease, and cancer. Premature and low birth weight is also linked to poor oral health. Therefore pregnant women must continue practicing preventive dental care even when they are expecting. It includes visits to dentists in Peabody, MA for dental exams and cleanings during pregnancy.
Besides reducing your risks of developing other health issues because of poor oral hygiene, preventive dental care also helps save money. Therefore, following all the practices mentioned in this article and recommended by the dental facility discussed above is beneficial.