Tooth and gum restoration procedures are an important part of keeping the mouth healthy, and it’s more affordable to prevent major oral health problems before they even start. This is the main goal of preventive dentistry, which emphasizes the importance of good oral health and hygiene habits followed up with routine professional cleanings and exams.
Preventive Dentistry for Good Dental and General Health
Preventive dentistry is all about maintaining good oral healthcare habits now, to ward off more serious problems in the future. Prevention will greatly reduce the risk of problems such as cavities, gum disease, loss of tooth enamel, and periodontitis.
Prevention is important no matter what your age. For children, it ensures that their permanent teeth can grow in healthy and strong. It also helps maintain as much healthy tooth for as long as possible.
Another goal of preventive dentistry is to reduce the effects that poor oral health has on overall general health. Poor oral health is linked to many health problems that affect other parts of the body, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, respiratory disease, and osteoporosis.
By maintaining good oral health, the risk of developing some diseases is reduced; in other cases, good oral health helps to reduce the effects on teeth and gums.
And finally, preventive dentistry can save money! Even if you have dental insurance, the need for costly dental treatments may still leave you paying out of pocket. It's much more cost-effective to have one or two preventive checkups each year than to have restorative procedures such as a root canal or dental implants.
Good Oral Health Habits
Preventive dentistry isn't just about what your dentist can do for you. It's also about what you can do at home to preserve your oral health. In fact, the most important thing you can do to protect your teeth is to brush them twice daily, with a fluoride toothpaste. Daily flossing is important too, to clean those areas a toothbrush can't reach. A balanced diet that limits sugar and processed carbohydrates and includes plenty of calcium and other nutrients also helps you maintain healthy teeth and gums.
See Your Dentist Regularly
Last—but not least—it's vital to visit your dentist once or twice a year for professional cleaning, and so that your dentist can check your teeth and gums for problems. If you're in the Ventura area call us at the Pacific View Dental Group for comprehensive dental care, including preventive cleaning and maintenance.
Share this Post!