By When you take time to think about it, your teeth sit at the crossroads of functionality and aesthetics like no other part of your body. They are critical for eating and speaking and are structurally important to your face but are also the centrepiece of a beautiful smile.
It is no wonder that being proactive to maintain and care for teeth is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle. Chetan from Mola Dental said “Practising preventative dentistry is the easiest way to ensure that you will have your teeth look good and work well for as long as possible. What is preventative dentistry?”
What is the Purpose of Preventative Dentistry?
Being proactive always makes sense but it is easy to let the immediate and urgent thingsovershadow the non-urgent but important areas of your life, like taking care of your oral health. What is the purpose of preventative dentistry?
- Better Oral Health
Better oral health is beneficial for many reasons. You have a better-looking smile and good breath if you have good oral health. You also avoid the negative side effects of bad oral hygiene which include multiple dental visits, bad breath along with all the other complications, which are numerous and can be costly.
- Improved Overall Health
Better oral health has been linked to better overall health including cardiovascular health, less risk of disease and obesity and a host of other benefits.
- Better Looking Smile
Everyone loves a great smile. Taking care of your teeth and having a pleasing smile will help open doors for you, providing you with better opportunities in life. It is also more fun to be in pictures when you can smile wide.
- Save Money
Preventative dentistry may cost money upfront for regular dental visits but it will save you money in the long run by avoiding expensive and avoidable dental challenges such as root canals, crowns, caps and more.
Personal Preventative Dentistry Measures
What can you do at home to make sure that you are doing your part in your preventative dentistry?
- Care and Maintenance
This means that you brush your teeth twice daily, use floss and use a good mouthwash to finish off your routine.
- Protection
Do you play sports? Are you involved in activities that put your teeth at risk? Do you have a tooth-grinding or biting problem? You can wear mouthguards of all types to protect against any type of damage while you are out living your life. Use them!
- Awareness
Do you smoke? Are you a habitual coffee drinker? Maybe you like to eat specific types of meals or snacks, like very acidic foods, that are bad for the enamel of your teeth. If you are aware, you can either avoid these habits or protect yourself by increasing your preventative measures before or after these activities.
Professional Preventative Dentistry Measures
Of course, not all preventative measures can be taken by you alone. This is where the professionals come in! What kind of measures can your dentist take to be proactive and prevent unnecessary damage and harm come to your teeth?
- Regular X-Rays
Why would you need x-rays regularly? The answer lies in the fact that your teeth are subjected to all sorts of pressures and if you aren’t aware of what your teeth are doing, unwanted changes can take place without you noticing. Regular x-rays will let your dentist know if there is any action that needs to be taken to correct an incoming dental challenge.
- Fluoride Treatments
These help with overall enamel and tooth health and are very beneficial. Getting fluoride treatments can strengthen your teeth and should be done regularly.
- Visits to the Dental Hygienist (Teeth Cleanings)
One of the most important aspects of preventative dentistry is to have your teeth professionally cleaned! The flossing and the brushing are not enough to be fully protected. Visit your dental hygienist every 6 months to keep your teeth and gums happy and healthy.
Who Benefits from Preventive Dentistry?
Everyone! You benefit from the health improvements that come along with preventative dentistry and the world gets to enjoy your smile every day. Make sure to practice preventative dentistry every day with the help and guidance of a dental professional.
