Preventive Dental Care and its role in oral health.
PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE AT HOME
Preventative dental care is the group of actions that will help us develop good dental health and help prevent conditions such as gum disease and cavities. The patient can take these actions and should be part of the habits, like brushing their teeth daily with fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing, and having a healthy diet. Preventive Dental Care plays an important role in overall oral health.
The first part of dental care starts at home and it is important to make it part of our daily habits and teach our children how to take proper care of their teeth. Dental care at home will help us prevent bad breath and tooth decay.
How to take care of our oral health at home? Well, the most important step to take in your daily dental care at home is to brush your teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes. Daily tooth cleaning should begin early in life, with the appearance of a child’s first teeth, getting kids into good oral health habits early, will make it easier for them to keep these habits in the future.
First, find the best toothbrush. You can find electric, and manual, made with different materials, the selection of the type of brush will depend on what you feel comfortable with. The size of a brush for an adult should be small to medium, allowing it to reach the back of the mouth, with soft, round-ended nylon bristles. For kids, is recommended a smaller soft-bristled brush. Toothbrushes should be replaced at least every 3 months.
The brushing technique is very important, along with the use of fluoride-containing toothpaste. Clean the inside surface of each tooth, the chewing surface, and behind the teeth. Pay attention to the gum line. Place toothbrush bristles at a 45-degree angle near the gum line, so that they are in contact with both the teeth and the gum.
“Dr. Chamberlain and his staff are excellent at what they do! They are efficient, effective, and professional. Dr. Chamberlain kept me at ease with his sense of humor as well as his honesty. I knew I was being well taken care of. He went out of his way to be sure he addressed everything I needed to keep me from needing more extensive work down the road, but he also let me be involved with the decision making. I felt safe because I was involved in my care and knew what I was getting into one way or another. My favorite dentist for sure!”
Floss. Even with a good brushing technique, the interdental region is hard to reach with a toothbrush, and particles and biofilms can easily form there. Flossing will help remove plaque and cleanse this area, preventing periodontal diseases. Flossing should be done on a daily basis.
The technique is very simple, cut a piece of floss (between 18-14 inches), wrap one end to the middle or index finger of your right hand, and the other end to the middle or index finger of your left hand, leaving 1 to 2 inches between for your teeth. Then just slide the floss gently between the teeth removing food residue, and other damaging substances stuck between the teeth.
Having a balanced diet will provide the nutrients your teeth need. Calcium provided by dairy products will strengthen the enamel, preventing decay and erosion. Vegetables such as carrots and fruits like apples will help to scrub your teeth. Also, the ingestion of a variety of foods will help you obtain all the vitamins you need to stay healthy, impacting as well your oral health.
Home oral care is very important and even a priority in our daily routines. To get the most out of your dental care, you should combine it with regular visits to your dentist for routine cleanings and exams. A once-per-year visit to the dentist's office to examine your teeth and gums for any problems.
Some of the services you can expect from a preventative dental care visit to the dentist are:
Dental Exams & Checkups.
Dental exams allow the dentist to evaluate your current oral healthcare methods and suggest directions for future actions to keep you safe from complications like cavities and gum disease. They also make it possible for your dentist to diagnose issues early on and fix them quickly and effectively.
Teeth Cleaning.
A dental prophylaxis is a cleaning procedure that thoroughly cleans the teeth and gums. It’s recommended prophylaxis twice a year as a preventative measure.
Preventative dentistry should not be overlooked. Regularly visiting your dentist and preventing oral health problems can help you maintain your overall health and wellness as you age, and also save you time, money, and potential discomfort by preventing serious dental disease.
“I was really nervous about getting an implant. WE discussed the whole procedure at my last cleaning. Dr. Chamberlain and his assistant Fanny made the whole procedure easy to deal with. They are very caring about you as the patient and as a person. Always asking if you’re ok and they actually follow up with phone calls to make sure everything is ok after the procedure! The hygienists, Page and Sue, are a great compliment to the team. The office manager completes this team with her dedication to getting as much money out of your insurance company as possible. They all work seamlessly as one unit - unheard of now days!! You couldn’t ask for a better team to take care of your mouth than the one at Elevation Family Dental !!”
