Most people who are dedicated to their oral health habits see it as a privilege and a joy, rather than a burden or nuisance. Having a beautiful, pearly white smile is something to be proud of, but it’s not a result of magic; it takes some work to accomplish such a jaw-dropping feat. On the contrary, it’s not rocket science to implement simple and important dental practices into your daily routines. Beautiful and healthy teeth take some maintenance, but if you keep up with it, it becomes second nature and the burden only comes when we neglect the recommended dental habits we hear about all our lives, such as brushing, flossing and bi-annual dental cleanings from a dentist in Layton. If you love your teeth, prove it. Give them the tender love and care they deserve and enjoy the results when you smile in front of the mirror.
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What is Preventative Dentistry?
Preventative dentistry is the practice of caring for your teeth to keep them healthy and avoid gum disease, cavities, wear to the enamel, and other dental issues.
Preventative dentistry entails many practices such as daily flossing and brushing, and regular dental cleanings. Like us, many dentists in Utah put a big emphasis on educating their patients to help with their own preventative dentistry. We know how important it is and we want you to know too. Here are some preventative dentistry practices to adopt right away to keep your teeth healthy, clean, and beautiful:
1. Floss Like a Boss
It’s never too late to make flossing a regular part of your daily dental care. Flossing is very important—it helps clean out food debris in those tight little spaces between your teeth. Flossing can be tricky with braces, but floss threaders can help make flossing easier for those with braces. Hug the tooth with your floss and move it up and down. Then repeat with every single tooth.
2. Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months
We love to see you, and we are so proud when you make your oral health a priority. At your standard dentist appointments, we’ll check for issues in the teeth or gums, and give you a good cleaning. If there is a problem, catching it early is always best. Otherwise, it can get worse and cause more problems. As a rule of thumb: go to the dentist every six months. If there are particular issues, your dentist may create a plan for more frequent visits with you.
3. Opt for a Balanced Diet
We know a balanced diet is beneficial to gut health, but did you know it’s also beneficial to your dental health? A balanced diet helps to protect your teeth with all the necessary nutrients that they need. If you’ve been trying to limit your sugar intake, here’s one more reason: too much sugar is bad for your teeth. In addition, drink lots and lots of water throughout your day.
Take your vitamins, eat healthy, keep it balanced and enjoy not only the benefits to your waistline, but also enjoy a healthier smile.
What Preventative Dentistry Does
If we haven’t convinced you that preventative dentistry is important yet, we’ll give you some more reasons. Preventative dentistry helps prevent dental problems later on in life. Proper dental care will reduce your risk of:
- Cavities
- Gingivitis
- Periodontitis
- Loss of Enamel
- Chronic bad breath
Who Can Benefit from Preventative Dentistry?
Everyone. Toddlers, kids, teens, adults, and the elderly. While every age group benefits from preventative oral health habits, it is crucial for children, in particular, to form good dental habits to help their newly developing teeth to grow in strong and healthy. Topical fluoride and dental sealants can exponentially help prevent tooth decay in children.
For the elderly, preventative care helps you to keep your teeth healthy and intact.
Other Health Risks
There are many benefits to good dental hygiene. Oral health is connected to your overall health and helps reduce the risk of:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Osteoporosis
- Respiratory disease
- Cancer
Studies also show a connection between bad oral health and premature birth and low birth weight. For this reason and many other reasons, practicing good oral health while you’re pregnant should be a top priority for you. Keep up with your oral health habits and keep scheduling those dental visits. Even if the chances are low for premature birth and low birth weight, it’s not worth the risk.
Good oral health also saves you money. Dental work is expensive. A root canal is not only very undesirable, it also costs a pretty penny. It is much easier to brush and floss than it is to sit through dental procedures that you could have avoided. If you haven’t been very diligent about your preventive dentistry habits, pick up a toothbrush and some floss and start today. Don’t put your dental health on the backburner.
You might not want to come to the dentist, but coming for a simple cleaning now might prevent a major procedure later.