Prevention is the best cure, which is why Exceptional Dentistry offers various preventive dental treatments to help reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease and protect your teeth against damage. You can take preventive measures at home by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily, but you still need routine dental care to remove tartar buildup and monitor changes in your oral health.
Why is preventive oral care important?
Taking good care of your teeth and gums can help protect you against cavities and gum disease.
Likewise, neglecting your oral health could result in damaging your teeth, toothaches, or tooth loss. Our mouths have millions of bacteria; some are good while some are bad. Sugary, starchy foods that we eat fuel the harmful bacteria in our mouths, which then go to work secreting acids that can erode dental enamel, causing cavities, and gum infections. The bacteria also form plaque that sticks to your teeth. Everyone develops plaque buildup, but it’s essential to remove it before it hardens into tartar. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily to reduce plaque and maintain your oral health.
Why isn’t brushing and flossing my teeth at home enough to manage my oral health?
Plaque buildup can happen in a matter of hours, which is why the American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day. That way, you remove the harmful bacteria and plaque buildup before it gets a chance to harden into tartar. However, most people aren’t perfect at brushing their teeth. Therefore, plaque that is left behind on your teeth eventually hardens, forming tartar, which can be seen as buildup between your teeth and along your gum line. However, tartar buildup cannot be removed by brushing and flossing. It is a hard substance that sticks to your teeth. Professional dental cleanings are the only way to remove tartar buildup. If ignored, tartar buildup causes red, tender, inflamed gums that bleed easily, the first stage of gum disease.
What are ways to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other dental damage?
Protect your teeth and gums by brushing twice a day and flossing daily. We also recommend eating a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, as well as lean meats and low-fat dairy.
Ideally, limit your consumption of sugary and starchy foods like chips, bread, crackers, candy, desserts, and sodas. These foods contain sugar or starches that fuel oral bacteria. While you may enjoy these foods occasionally, we recommend brushing and flossing your teeth afterward. Along with maintaining a daily oral hygiene routine and eating a healthy diet, we recommend visiting the dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings.
Why are dental cleanings and checkups important for my oral health?
Dental cleanings remove tartar buildup and stains on your teeth and allow the dentist a chance to assess your gum health. One of our highly qualified dentists will also conduct a complete oral examination that includes an oral cancer screening. At least once a year, x-rays are taken, which show us areas of your mouth that cannot be seen by a visual examination. For instance, x-rays allow us to see between your teeth, where cavities often form, and below the gum line to assess your jawbone health and check your tooth roots. We will also look for abnormalities or changes in your oral health because addressing problems in their earliest stage provides the best outcomes.
At Exceptional Dental Care, we offer the following preventive treatments:
- Prophylaxis – Dental cleanings for children and adults that remove tartar buildup and stains.
- Oral examinations, including digital x-rays – Assess your teeth and gums for cavities, gum disease, or other damage that may require treatment.
- Nightguards for bruxism – Custom-made oral appliance that can be worn while sleeping to prevent damaging your teeth from clenching and grinding.
- Ozone therapy – A safe, holistic treatment that reduces oral bacteria in the mouth.
- Fluoride treatments – An FDA-approved varnish applied to teeth to restore lost minerals and reduce the risk of cavities.
- Sealants – Applied to the chewing surface of the bottom back teeth, sealants create a barrier to protect those hard to clean crevices that are common areas for cavity formation.
- MI Paste – Helps reduce tooth sensitivity due to over brushing or worn dental enamel.
