Preventive Dentistry

It's reasonable to assume that most of us are pleased that a new year has arrived after a year like 2022. Do you still need help deciding what to do for New Year's resolutions in 2023? Many individuals are trying to save costs or improve their health. What if you could achieve both objectives by arranging a consultation for preventive dentistry at the beginning of the year?

You may avoid serious tooth issues, suffering, and costly procedures by receiving the appropriate preventive dentistry. Thankfully, once you start including preventative dentistry in your daily routine, maintaining it is simple. So, you can start your year with the best practices and enjoy better oral hygiene in the coming year.

Why Should You Think About Preventative Dentistry?

The method of taking care of your teeth to maintain their health is known as preventive dentistry. This helps prevent tooth decay, periodontitis, enamel wear, and other problems. Preventive dentistry takes many forms, including regular dental cleanings and daily brushing.

You need to have clean, healthy teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) advises visiting the dentist regularly to maintain excellent oral health. These procedures are intended to maintain healthy, sturdy, and white teeth. Beginning the New Year with preventative care may help you chart a new course for the rest of the year.

Clean teeth lead to good oral health, promoting improved bodily health. If your last trip to the dentist was a long time ago, now could be an excellent time to make an appointment and get preventative dental treatment to kick off the new year correctly.

You may significantly lower your chance of developing cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, and other dental issues by practicing proper oral hygiene. Your risk of secondary issues brought on by poor dental health might be decreased due to appropriate preventative dental care. Poor oral health has been related to many health issues, including:

  • Heart Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Respiratory Disorders
  • Osteoporosis

Poor dental health may also be related to premature delivery and low birth weight. If you're expecting, you should keep up your excellent preventative dental health habits. This includes going to the dentist throughout your pregnancy for regular checks.

Maintaining good preventive health can help you avoid other health problems and save money. The expenses of poor oral hygiene may mount, even with dental insurance. Even though fillings, root canals, and dental implants may still be necessary sometimes, preventative dentistry may significantly lower the need for these pricey procedures.

What Is Part of Preventative Dentistry?

Dental checkups and regular cleanings are part of modern preventative dentistry to safeguard your teeth. Typically, dentists advise that you have these procedures done twice a year, but you may also need more regular appointments.

It often includes preventive periodontal (gum) treatment to preserve and safeguard your gums. X-rays are often necessary to identify any abnormalities under the gum's surface. Therefore, dentists may identify such issues earlier and treat them while they're mild rather than after they worsen.

A big element of preventive dentistry is brushing and flossing, which you may perform on your own at home. But it goes beyond that as well. A skilled dentist must provide the proper hygiene guidelines, including how frequently to brush and floss, when to do it, what toothbrush you need, and which toothpaste is ideal for you. Here are some tips for keeping up strong at-home preventive dental care.

Brush and Floss Daily

Flossing every day is among the simplest and most crucial preventative dental suggestions you should follow. Flossing is crucial to eliminate debris, germs, and plaque from between your teeth and below your gum line. It aids in the prevention of gum disease and abscesses.

Brushing your teeth twice a day is yet another of the simplest and most crucial preventative dentistry suggestions you should implement into your everyday life. You should properly brush your teeth twice daily: in the morning for morning breath and at night to remove all the debris, germs, and plaque that formed during the day. You should always wash your teeth before night to reduce your chances of developing cavities and gum disease.

Change Your Toothbrush

Brushes don't last a lifetime. They will eventually wear out and stop cleaning your teeth as efficiently. Your toothbrush may potentially get contaminated with bacteria. Make sure you replace your toothbrush and buy a new toothbrush every three months. You can also set a friendly reminder on your smartphone to remember this and change your brush.

Get Regular Dental Treatments

Getting dental care as soon as you need it is another essential preventative dentistry advice. This entails avoiding delaying a straightforward filling for a year and needing a root canal later. Dental issues may cause greater harm and discomfort the longer you wait to have them repaired. Additionally, it can need more invasive and costly surgeries.

Try Dental Sealants

Plastic coverings, and sealants, cover the molars. These sealants will adequately protect your molars against germs and plaque. We know that molars have crooked grooves excellent at trapping food particles. A protective wall and a smooth surface are provided by preventive sealants, allowing food particles to slip off teeth when brushing easily. Although often given to youngsters, this preventative dental treatment also has advantages for adults.

More Water and Less Sugar

Water is necessary for cleaning microorganisms from your mouth. Plaque and germs stick to your teeth when you have a dry mouth or consume sugary beverages all day. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of clean fluids and water daily.

You will discover that most processed goods include added sugar if you read the nutritional information. Plaque may build up on your teeth whether you eat fruit or a cake since sugar can do this. Reducing your sugar consumption might aid in preventing plaque formation. Additionally, it might improve your general health.

According to the American Heart Association, women should limit their daily caloric intake to no more than 100 calories or 25 grams of sugar. Men should limit their caloric intake to 150 calories or 37.5 grams of added sugar.

Invest In Preventative Dentistry

You must schedule routine cleanings and examinations with your dentist at the very least. In addition to cleaning your teeth and the area under your gums of any plaque and tartar, dentists use this time to check your mouth for any potential dental issues.

If there are any problems, a dentist will advise the required procedures to assist your dental health in going back to normal. So, schedule a consultation to kick off the new year with preventative dentistry.