Preventive

Preventive dentistry focuses on the early detection and prevention of dental issues. As the name implies, it helps you avoid oral health issues instead of needing to treat them when they occur. You can get the best dental and preventive dental care at your Shoreline dentist. We are committed to giving our patients personalized care tailored to their unique needs in a welcoming and comfortable environment.

Preventive dentistry is a combination of professional dental checkups and excellent at-home oral hygiene. Sometimes, people are filled with dread and anxiety when they hear "dental appointments." However, dental appointments could save you a lot of pain, suffering, and money in the long run.

Best Preventive Dentistry Practices

1. Engage Preventive Dentistry in Your Home

There are several ways to engage in preventive dentistry in your home. Later in this post, you will learn the best preventive dentistry practices you can use at home.

2. Schedule Regular Oral Exams and Cleanings

Regular checkups and professional cleanings are a significant part of preventive dentistry. If you aren’t a dental specialist, you cannot tell how healthy your teeth are by merely staring at them. Hence, it is recommended that you have a dental appointment once every 6 months. The dentist can spot danger signs during these examinations and give tailored medications and advice.

Importance Of Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dentistry offers you a wide range of benefits. These benefits include:

1. Prevents Cavities

No matter how diligent you are with brushing and flossing, reaching every segment of your mouth won't be easy. With time, plaques build up on constantly unreached parts of your mouth. As more time passes, plaque can become painful cavities that necessitate a dental clinic visit. Preventive dentistry through regular visits could help you avoid such scenarios. During your visits, your teeth will be professionally cleaned, and this will prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar. Furthermore, the dentist would apply dental sealants and fluoride treatments to protect your teeth from cavities.

2. Prevents Gum Disease

The build-up of plaque and tartar on your teeth and gum could put you at risk of gum disease. Unfortunately, gum diseases like gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and, most significantly, periodontitis can destroy the jaw bones. The dentist will spot gum inflammation early with preventive dentistry and start procedures to eliminate the irritation. Hence, keeping your gum in a healthy state. In some cases, periodontal care could include fluoride treatments. Fluoride treatments combat erosion and make it easier to wade off disease-causing bacteria in the mouth.

3. Eliminates Bad Breath

Bad breath could be embarrassing, unpleasant, and cause a loss of confidence. Much more, it could be a sign of decay or a mouth infection. If you constantly struggle with bad breath, it just might be time for you to embrace preventive dentistry. Regular dental cleanings and preventive measures would help find the root cause of the bad breath and solve them.

4. Helps Spot Jaw Problems Early

Most people with bruxism (teeth grinding) or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders do not know they have these disorders. When left unattended, they could lead to issues like jaw misalignment and severe tension headaches. Trained dentists can recognize the early signs of these disorders. When spotted, they will make your appliances that could keep the disorders in check, preventing them from worsening.

5. Avoids Serious Health Problems

Several critical health challenges usually start in the mouth. This is because tooth decay and poor oral hygiene make it easier for bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Thus, attacking the immune system and causing diseases. Diseases that could arise due to poor oral hygiene include diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases. Poor oral hygiene could also lead to premature birth and low birth weight in pregnant women.

6. Promotes Good Dental Habits

Introducing your kids to preventive dentistry would instill dental habits they will imbibe for the rest of their lives. It also equips you with the best tips for taking care of your kids' teeth. Starting preventive dentistry for your kids eliminates bacterial build-ups and puts your kids on track for long-term dental health.

7. Reduces the Cost of Restorative Care

Preventive dentistry is less expensive than restorative dental care, regardless of how you examine it. As a result of modern dentistry, effective remedial tools like fillings, crowns, and implants now exist. These go a long way in correcting issues. However, proactive dentistry is cheaper than these options. This explains why several insurance companies prefer to cover most preventive treatments for their clients. Even if you don't have insurance, two yearly cleanings are cheaper than fillings, root canals, and other restorative dental care.

How to Practice Preventive Dentistry at Home

In addition to visiting the dentist every 6 months, you are responsible for engaging in the best dental practices at home. Some of the periodontal care you should engage in include:

1. Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day

Brushing your teeth twice daily is one of the best preventive dental care treatments you could practice at home. For the best results, you should brush once after breakfast and after your final meal at night. Ensure you carefully and dutifully clean out the corners with fluoride toothpaste and recommended toothbrush. To retain the effectiveness of your toothbrush, you need to change your toothbrush every three or four months.

2. Floss Every Day

Flossing every day keeps your teeth clean and reduces the risk of gum disease. It helps you get into your teeth and clean residues your toothbrush may have missed. When flossing, ensure you cover all your teeth, especially the ones at the back. Due to their location, the back teeth are more susceptible to cavities.

3. Watch Your Diet

Your diet plays a significant role in your overall dental health. You could help your teeth stay healthy by eating a balanced diet. Also, there are certain meals you should avoid and reduce including sugar, soda, juice, and simple carbohydrates like bread. In place of these meals, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, drink lots of water, and get enough calcium.

Conclusion

Your Shoreline dentist, the office of Dr. Eric Yao, is the best location for your preventive dentistry. We are committed to working with you to cater to your teeth and improve your dental health. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about preventive dentistry.