Preventive dentistry helps to prevent oral health issues. It keeps your gums, teeth healthy to prevent tooth decay and gum diseases. Preventive dentistry allows your dentist to monitor your oral health, prevent serious diseases, and promote healthy oral habits.
Dental issues can develop even after proper oral care and routine brushing and flossing. Preventive dentistry is important for ​the prevention of dental caries.
What Preventive Dental Services Include?
Preventive dentistry includes a lot of services such as:
- Dental Exams
You may not be aware of some dental problems until they cause serious damage. Dental exams help to avoid the risk of dental problems. Schedule dental exams after every six months, if you are at higher risk of oral diseases.
During your dental check-ups, the dentist performs oral exams to check the signs of tooth decay, gum diseases, misaligned teeth, and oral cancer, etc.
- Professional Dental Cleaning
There are some hard-to-reach areas where a brush can’t reach, plaque and tartar start to build up in that area. A professional mouth cleaning twice a year helps to remove the plaque and tartar and will prevent tooth decay and cavities.
- Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride treatment makes your teeth stronger and resistant to decay. It is recommended to those who are not getting enough fluoride. It is a quick and easy process.
- X-Rays
X- rays help to detect the problems that can’t be seen with naked eyes such as cavities between the teeth and beneath the gum line.
- Orthodontics
Misaligned teeth can be corrected with orthodontics treatments such as metal braces and clear aligners. They can affect your bite and can impair your ability to eat and speak.
- Mouthguards
Most pediatric dentists recommend wearing mouthguards to protect your teeth and gums. If you have a habit of grinding at night, wearing mouth guards can help to prevent gum recession. These are prepared at the dental clinic according to the shape of your teeth.
- Sealants
Sealants are plastic covering that is placed on the tooth surface to protect the nooks and crannies of your tooth from cavities. It makes brushing your teeth easier.
What Benefits Does Preventive Dentistry Provide?
The purpose of preventive dentistry is to keep your teeth healthy. The preventive dental exam provides a variety of benefits:
- Promote Better Oral Hygiene Habits
It helps to promote good oral hygiene habits such as the proper way to brush your teeth and brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing, avoiding acidic foods that can harm tooth enamel.
- Prevent Complicated Treatments and Save Money
Early diagnosis of dental issues can help to reduce the risk of complex treatments. Thus, it will save your money in the long run by avoiding these complicated procedures.
- Prevent Tooth Decay and CavitiesÂ
Regular visits to dentists can help to prevent the formation of cavities. Brush can’t reach every nook and cranny of your mouth. A professional cleaning will eliminate the build-up of plaque and tartar and avoid the risk of cavities.
- Prevent Gum Problems
Accumulation of plaque and tartar can cause serious gum problems such as gingivitis and periodontal diseases. Preventive dentistry can help to reduce the risk of serious gum diseases by treating the plaque and tartar at the right time.
- Prevent Serious Health Issues
Poor oral health also leads to other serious health problems such as diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, osteoporosis, etc. Poor dental habits can make it easier for bacteria to get into the bloodstream.
- Strengthen Your Teeth
Fluoride helps to promote the absorption of the minerals that strengthen the teeth. It protects your teeth from tooth decay and cavities.
Importance of Preventive Dentistry for Children
Preventive dentistry is as important for kids to keep their teeth and gums healthy as they progress towards adulthood. Kids are more prone to cavities.
It is advised to visit the dentist as the first tooth of your child erupts dental exams. Professional teeth cleaning will help to ensure healthy teeth for a lifetime. As they grow up, it is important to teach good oral habits and be acquainted with the dentist.
Preventive dentistry is an important part of your oral health care. If you want healthy teeth for a lifetime, ​call and book an appointment today for preventive dental services.
