Professional dental prophylaxis can significantly support your efforts towards healthy teeth and gums. Although in some cases, despite a good oral care routine at home, dental problems such as tooth decay can occur, some people are more susceptible.
While modern dentistry can correct various oral health problems, preventive dentistry focuses on preventing problems rather than waiting for them to occur and then looking for ways to solve them.
Initial steps
The importance of preventative dental care is underscored by the types of problems it can avoid or minimize the risk of. These problems include:
- Tooth decay.
- Erosion of tooth enamel.
- Gum disease.
The mouth is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, so your oral health and overall well-being are interconnected. Preventing dental problems helps keep the rest of your body in good condition.
Conditions that have been connected to gum disease include:
- Heart disease.
- Lung infections.
- Diabetes.
- Increased risk of cancer.
Dental Exams and Cleanings
Regular checkups with professional tooth cleaning are the cornerstone of dental care. Your dentist will look for symptoms of tooth decay or enamel erosion and the cavities they can cause. Some of these symptoms, which you may not have noticed yourself, include:
- Soft areas on the enamel.
- Discolouration of the tooth enamel.
- An increase of plaque and tartar on the gums can indicate gum disease (periodontitis). Signs of mouth or throat cancer.
Dental checkups usually include professional teeth cleaning to remove bacterial plaque and tartar, which can form even with regular brushing and flossing. Once plaque has hardened into tartar, it can only be removed by a dentist. However, Dr Henderson, a Mint Hill dentist, adds that in most cases, tartar removal can be done in a single visit to the dentist’s office.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you visit your dentist after every six months for a checkup cleaning.
Fluoride Treatments and Dental Sealants
In addition to checkups and tooth cleaning, dental prophylaxis also includes tooth sealants and fluoride applications. Fluoride protects your teeth from decay by strengthening the enamel and the outer protective layer of your teeth gel, varnish or foam. According to the American Dental Association, fluoride can reduce tooth decay by 20 to 40 per cent and reverse early stages of tooth decay. However, the fluoride treatment only works on the smooth surfaces of the teeth. These are essential to keep your oral health well for long term. You should go for Dentist waterloo for consultation and to discuss your problems in detail. So instead, dentists use sealants to protect the numerous nooks and crannies of back teeth from decay. Sealants made of plastic resins that harden on a tooth’s surface cover the cracks and ridges on your teeth that are difficult to keep clean by brushing. They also make brushing your teeth easier and more effective.
Preventive Dental Care at Home
Between visits to your dentist, it’s important to keep track of your oral care at home to keep your teeth and gums in healthy condition. You should:
- Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes, preferably with fluoride toothpaste in the morning and before bed.
- Floss daily to remove food particles trapped between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.
Limiting sugary or acidic drinks and snacks and maintaining a healthy, tooth-friendly diet rich in fruits and vegetables is also important. Foods rich in vitamin C, such as leafy greens like broccoli and kale, may help prevent gingivitis. If you participate in contact sports, wear a custom, professionally manufactured mouthguard to cushion and protect your teeth and gums. Mouthguards can also prevent neck injuries, fractured jaws, and cerebral haemorrhage.
Importance of Preventive Dental Care for Children
Preventative dentistry is especially important for children, paving the way for healthy teeth and gums as they progress into adulthood. Dental exams and professional cleanings at an early age, before bacteria can build up, can ensure a lifetime of good dental health. Your children’s baby teeth may be temporary. Still, they play a crucial role in reserving space for permanent adult teeth to come through properly. Many dentists recommend a dental exam before a child’s first birthday to ensure teeth and gums are in good condition. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) says that dental anxiety in children can be reduced by regular dentist visits before a problem like a cavity develops.
Why Does Preventive Dental Care Matter?
It would not be an exaggeration to say that prevention can save your life! For example, we look for oral cancer during routine checkups. The earlier a problem is identified, the sooner it can be treated and the greater the chance of recovery. The same applies to signs of gum disease and infections, which, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss and bone loss. Unfortunately, dental health problems get worse when undiagnosed and ignored, so it’s important to keep track of your regular appointments.
Who Needs Preventive Care?
Everyone needs regular preventive dental care, including children, teens, adults and seniors. Unfortunately, studies have shown that elderly patients and children often suffer from tooth decay and gum disease. For this reason, we would like to routinely see patients every six months after age one.
The Basics of Dental Checkups
Visiting the dentist kitchener every six months is a small sacrifice of time for big rewards. These checkups include a cleaning and an oral exam by your dentist, during which various aspects of your oral health are checked. This includes your teeth and gums, of course, but also your cheeks, tongue and mouth.
Caring for Healthy Teeth
If you have had previous dental procedures, the dentist will ensure that those fillings or restorations are in top condition. Fillings and other work can wear down over time and chip or crack due to the constant pressure of chewing, crunching, or clenching. Chips, cracks, and other problems can further affect your oral health, as well as the overall health of your body.
Preventing Gum Disease
Periodontitis, known to most as gum disease, is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. A biannual dental exam will ensure your dentist is spotting any signs of problems with your gums. These tests are necessary for you to know something is wrong since gum disease is generally painless. If you see a dentist regularly, they can detect early-stage gum disease known as gingivitis and start treating it right away. Fortunately, gingivitis is reversible! Daily brushing and flossing can help prevent gingivitis from getting worse. Periodontitis is the new stage of gum disease. At this point, infection in your gums can cause teeth to become insecure, fall out, or need to be extracted by a dentist.
