With all of the sophisticated restorative and cosmetic dentistry procedures available to us today, the most important thing you can do for the health of your teeth and gums is also the simplest: practice good preventive dentistry.
Preventive dentistry simply refers to the practices that keep your smile healthy, thereby preventing the need for it to be “fixed” with fillings and other restorations. Because as wonderful and natural-looking as today’s restorations are, it’s always best to keep your teeth in tip-top shape.
Part of a good preventive dentistry plan is visiting us every six months for a cleaning and exam. Call Attleboro Family Dental Care today at 508-222-2510 or fill out our online form to request your next checkup.
A Good Oral Hygiene Routine at Home
You are only in our office twice per year, so the bulk of your dental care is up to you. It’s important to have a routine and stick with it, day in and day out. This includes:
- Brushing twice every day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste and brush for two minutes, taking care to reach all surfaces of the teeth. Don’t brush too hard, as that can damage the enamel and gums. You should even brush your tongue!
- Floss once a day. Carefully get between all the teeth, using the floss to gently remove stuck food and to clean the enamel.
- Use an antiseptic mouthwash to rinse away bacteria and food particles.
A Tooth-Healthy Diet
What you eat has an enormous effect on your health overall and your oral health.
- Avoid chewy sweets: gummy candies, taffy, chewy granola bars, fruit leather, dried fruits. These get stuck in the grooves of the teeth and encourage the proliferation of bacteria.
- Avoid starchy snacks like chips and pretzels, which also are a favorite food source for harmful bacteria.
- Eat crunchy, raw, vegetables. These stimulate saliva flow and help keep the teeth clean.
- Get your dairy and leafy greens — both are great sources for enamel-boosting calcium.
- Drink water, not juice or soda. Water is a great way to keep your teeth clean between brushings.
Regular Dental Visits
To maintain excellent oral health, it’s important to visit us twice per year for your cleaning and exam. Here’s why:
- Our hygienists use their expertise and special tools to remove stuck-on plaque and tartar that you can’t reach at home. We will also floss your teeth and polish them so they gleam.
- Then we will thoroughly examine your entire mouth, looking for early signs of decay, gum disease, oral cancer, and other problems. We will use X-rays to see what is going on under the surface. When we’re able to catch issues in the earliest stages, they are generally much easier to treat.
- We offer additional preventive treatments like sealants, fluoride treatments, and mouthguards for sports. We will be happy to discuss these and their benefits.
Ready to get your next appointment in the books? Call Attleboro Family Dental Care today at 508-222-2510 or fill out our online form to set it up at your convenience.
The post Essentials of Preventive Dentistry appeared first on Dr. Hikmat Hannawi v2.