Keep Your Teeth Healthy Longer With Proper Preventative Care
Preventive dentistry focuses on helping you avoid dental disease or to catch it in its early
, more treatable stages. The main purpose of preventative care is through the oral hygiene care that is performed by you at home. It also encompasses what is performed by your dentist and their dental staff in their office to help you maintain healthy teeth and gums. In either case, the objective is to stop the development of oral disease or to find it at an early stage. Preventive dentistry can help patients maintain a healthy mouth and a healthy body.
Early Dental Visits are Essential to Children's Health
Oral health is an important part of a child's overall health, and yet it can often be overlooked in young children. Good oral health care practices should begin with an introductory dental visit before your child's first birthday. Children's teeth are meant to last a lifetime and with proper care, a balanced diet and regular dental visits, children can have a lifetime of healthy smiles. The ADA recommends your child maintain regular dental check-ups, including a visit to the dentist within six months of the eruption of their first tooth, and no later than your child's first birthday.
At-Home Dental Care
One of the most important prevention techniques is brushing and flossing at least twice a day to remove dental plaque, a film-like coating that forms on your teeth. If not removed, plaque can build up and produce dental tartar, a hardened, sticky substance with acid-producing bacteria that cause tooth decay and lead to gum disease.
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is arguably the most essential component to the maintenance of good oral health. The foods that we often eat contain sugars and starches. When plaque combines with these sugars and starches, an acid is produced that attacks tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. Brushing your teeth removes plaque from the tooth surfaces while flossing removes plaque from in between the teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day for approximately two minutes, preferably after eating.
Additionally, flossing in between your teeth is an essential part of the oral hygiene practice for avoiding gum disease and preventing tooth decay. Many people do not realize the importance of flossing and often forego the hygienic practice, believing that tooth brushing is an adequate enough practice for removing plaque. Tooth decay is a serious oral health concern that is caused by a buildup of plaque. Flossing is not hard, does not take much time and should be performed daily to eliminate plaque.
Regular Dental Visits and Teeth Cleaning
According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), a professional dental cleaning at least twice a year can help to improve your oral health. At your dental cleaning, diagnostic services may include:
*Reviewing and updating medical history
*Oral cancer examination and screening
*Evaluation of gum tissue
*Checking biting, chewing and swallowing patterns
*X-rays, examination of teeth to detect decay
*Treatment planning
*Referral to specialists for specific treatment
While at your checkup, preventive services may also include removal of plaque and tartar, stain removal, fluoride application, sealants and polishing of fillings or crowns. Your Virginia Beach dentist will provide you with proper tooth brushing and flossing instructions, as well as an array of other helpful information for maintaining a healthy smile.
by: Gen Wright
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