Benefits of Preventative Dentistry
Your dental health has a huge impact on your overall health in many ways. Just like there are preventative measures to take for your physical health, there are preventative measures you can take for your oral health, too. Preventative dentistry is taking care of your teeth and gums to ensure optimal health by brushing, flossing, mouthwash or other oral rinses, and routine dentist visits. The goal of preventative dentistry is to avoid negative impacts on your health such as plaque and tartar, gum disease (also called periodontitis or periodontal disease), cavities, and much more.
Building a Dental Care Routine
The first step to practicing good preventative dentistry is to build yourself a dental care routine. Creating good habits is the key to your at-home care for your teeth and gums. Remembering to brush your teeth at least twice per day, as well as floss and use mouthwash, will do the bulk of the work to prevent things like gum disease. Of course, simply carrying out these steps isn’t quite enough. Making sure that you are using the correct products, and that those are quality products, is equally important. It’s also good to know how to brush your teeth, which may sound silly, but you might be surprised how many people don’t know the proper brushing technique.
Routine Dental Visits
Making sure you get your two annual dental cleanings every year is also an essential component to preventative dentistry. These cleanings ensure that all plaque is removed, including the plaque you aren’t able to scrub away with your toothbrush or by flossing. During this time, your dentist is also able to take a look at the state of your gums and spot anything that might become issues later on. Spotting early-stage gum disease can save you time, money, and your health!
Diet and Your Oral Health
Now here’s a component of good preventative dentistry that people don’t think of very often: your diet. A good diet absolutely affects your oral healthcare. A diet that is high in sugar creates a nightmare for dental care. When sugar becomes combined with your saliva and other bacteria in your mouth, this leads to tooth decay. So, a diet that is high in sugar is more likely to see higher rates of tooth decay. This isn’t limited to just food, either. Sugary drinks, particularly soda, are one of the worst culprits that cause cavities.
That brings us to the next thing on the list: acidity. Acidic food and drink, primarily in the form of sodas and sports drinks, can erode your enamel at an increasing rate in conjunction with other foods. This arguably makes drinks such as sodas and energy drinks some of the worst things you can consume that affect your dental health. Not to mention all of the other health risks associated with these drinks.
Preventative Dental Care in Prosper, TX
Bring Prosper and Smile Dental Care into your lineup of preventative dentistry tactics to ensure a happy, healthy smile. We help our patients understand everything they need to know about taking proper care of their teeth and gums. Contact us today to get your appointment scheduled and prevent gum disease!