Learn How to Save Time and Money with Preventive Dental Care

What happens when you don’t care for your oral health or your teeth? You leave yourselves open to spending thousands of dollars on therapeutic treatments. If you are determined not to do so, you must practice preventive dental care, which can safeguard you from these exorbitant expenses.

The emphasis of preventive dentistry is on ongoing hygiene practices and daily habits to prevent tooth decay and various other dental illnesses or conditions. Effective preventive dentistry is a combination of at-home oral care and chairside treatments by the dentist near you who also provides counseling.

The ADA has recommended at least two dental checkups every year for professional cleaning and management of any issues developing. When you adhere to the recommendation, you help your dentist prevent dental problems in their earliest stages. You are helping yourself by protecting your smile and limiting expenses in the long run.

Preventive Dentistry Must Begin At an Early Age

As soon as your child’s first tooth erupts, it would help if you started a daily tooth cleaning practice. It would be best to take the child to a pediatric dentist no later than the age of one to establish a comprehensive preventive dentistry program for your child.

What Are the Strategies for Preventive Dental Care?

Preventive dental care strategies for children and adults include various in-office and home care activities which include the following:

• Appropriate oral hygiene practices. The most effective prevention technique for home care includes brushing at least twice a day and flossing after every meal. Removing plaque buildup is the goal of flossing. Plaque is a film-like substance that forms on the teeth, and if not removed, it can harden into calculus. You cannot remove calculus after it starts because it needs professional cleaning to eliminate it. Leaving the condition untreated makes you susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.
• Nutrition and diet. Having a healthy diet is essential for your dental health. Carbohydrates and sugars feed plaque producing bacteria, and diets lacking in calcium increase your chances of developing gum disease and jaw deterioration.
• Use of fluoride. Fluoride can strengthen your teeth to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride treatments are provided by preventive dental Portland, who will also recommend using fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses at home. A significant source of fluoride is also tap water because of public water fluoridation.
• Regular dental visits. Dental conditions are usually painless leading you to believe no issues exist until the problem causes significant damage. It would be helpful to schedule regular dental visits for you and your family with Laurelhurst dentistry every six months. You can schedule visits to the dentist in Portland frequently if you are at a higher risk of oral health issues.

Preventive dental care is not just about looking for issues in your mouth. The dentist also performs oral cancer screenings looking for abnormal tissues in the mouth. Checking oral health and development of children, including an assessment for the development of dental caries, is also a part of dental evaluations.

Risk Assessment of Dental Caries

Your dentist customizes a prevention program based on your unique caries risk assessment profile. The assessment involves observing the clinical appearance of the patient by taking into account the following:

• The number of strange existing lesions in your mouth.
• Your salivary flow rate and exposure to fluoride.
• Your diet and the use of medications, some of which can contribute to cavities as they contain high amounts of sugar or may reduce the flow of saliva.
• Your dentist will also consider your age, as every age group has a unique set of associated risks.
• Your income, education, and oral health attitude will also be considered because research reveals that people with low income or education are susceptible to severe and untreated dental decay.

The Benefits of Preventive Dental Care

When you consider that your oral health is linked to your overall health, it becomes significantly essential for you to understand preventive dental care is critical to your overall well-being. Oral infections can interfere with eating, daily activities, speaking, and self-esteem.

Dental caries in children can impair growth and development. Preventive dental care results in minor and inexpensive treatments for any dental conditions that develop. It also helps you to keep your natural teeth for a lifetime.