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The phrase ‘prevention is better than cure’ is much more relevant when it comes to ensuring good oral health. Generally, people tend to act as per need, that is, visiting a dentist as and when any dental problem occurs.
If you want to ensure healthier teeth for a longer age without many troubles, you must take preventive measures that could help you save a lot of time, money, and effort. Well, that is what preventive dentistry is all about.
dental health to avoid oral problems later in life. There are various checkups and treatments that come under preventative dentistry practices. These include regular dental screening, x-rays, teeth scaling, fluoride treatments, and much more.
Let us Look at Some of The Advantages of Preventive Dentistry in Maintaining Good Oral Health.
Prevent Cavities
Even though you follow good brushing and flossing, it is hard to reach out to every nook and corner of your mouth. This can lead to the formation of cavities which, if left unaddressed, can lead to dental problems.
Scheduling regular visits to your dentist enable you to track cavity build-up in the mouth. As a preventive measure, you can go for professional cleaning that helps prevent tartar and plaque deposits, allowing you to avoid painful cavities.
Your dentist can apply dental sealants and fluoride treatments to your teeth for added protection.
Prevent Gum Disease
The formation of plaque and tartar in your mouth can not only affect your teeth but it can also affect your gums – the holding base of your teeth. This can lead to inflammation of the gums, resulting in Gingivitis.
If not treated on time, the inflammation can get more severe, leading to Periodontitis which can even destroy the jawbones.
You can avoid such diseases with regular dental checkups and oral cancer screening. As soon as your dentist can track signs of gum diseases, they can help you avoid severe damage further.
Your dentist may adopt preventive measures like fluoride treatments to shield your gums from any disease by preventing erosion and empowering them to combat disease-causing bacteria in the mouth.
Prevent Bad Breath
Often ignored, bad breath can hamper your social life to a greater extent. It’s not only a sign of irregular brushing or flossing, but it can be a sign of developing infection or decay of teeth.
Regular dental checkups as part of your preventive dental care schedule can help you address any such issues on time.
In addition, your dentist may recommend regular dental cleaning or any other preventive dentistry treatment to let you tackle any such issues timely and avoid them from getting worse.
Detect Jaw Problems Early
Not just minor problems, preventive dentistry can let you detect many other disorders like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or bruxism (teeth grinding). These disorders can lead to jaw misalignment and severe headaches if they remain unchecked. As part of routine checkups, your dentist can spot such conditions and treat them timely so that it doesn’t get worse.
Prevent Serious Health Issues
They say everything begins from the mouth. Well, that’s true to quite an extent. A lot of severe health issues actually begin in the mouth.
Poor oral hygiene and tooth decay can lead to inflammation in the body, putting you at risk of many kinds of diseases. It happens due to improper dental practices, which enable bacteria to get into your bloodstream.
Some of the diseases that have a link with poor oral health are:
- Cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Respiratory disease
What’s more, poor oral hygiene during pregnancy can even lead to premature birth and low birth weight for the baby.
Enhance Your Smile
Regular dental checkups and care not just only keep your oral health good, but they also help to maintain and enhance your smile.
When you visit your dentist regularly to clean and upkeep your teeth and gums, your teeth remain free from stains or possible discoloration.
Even if you do not prefer to go for professional whitening treatments rather than a regular cleaning, your teeth will still look cleaner and better. This will surely give you the confidence of smiling more often without thinking.
Ensure Gentle Treatment
Anything that takes time to deposit takes more effort and time when you plan to remove it. The same is the case with plaque and tartar deposits in your mouth.
If you don’t prefer to visit your dentist for checkups or cleanings regularly, there is a possibility of plaque and tartar buildup, affecting your dental health.
For instance, if you visit your dentist once every two years, the time and effort required to clean or treat any disorder may take more time than otherwise.
Save on Money
Preventive dentistry can help you save money in the longer run. Yes, this may sound strange but it’s true. When your teeth are checked and cleaned on a regular basis, any small cavity or decay can be seen and treated at the same time. This prevents you from fillings, implants, or root canals that may be needed if oral problems are not found or treated on time.
These are some of the advantages of preventive dentistry that enable you to maintain good oral health. So, it is recommended to schedule regular appointments with your dentist, preferably every three to six months.
In addition to scheduling regular dental checkups, you should follow the basic cleaning and dental hygiene practices at your home to prevent day-to-day dental problems.
- Brush twice a day with dentist-recommended toothpaste and toothbrush
- Floss every day to remove any deposits and plaque in between the teeth
- Rinse with mouthwash to wash out any bacteria or germs in the mouth
- Change your toothbrush every three months
For more information and to book a consultation/checkup, get in touch today.
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