The Power Of Preventative Care
Patients ask all the time, “How can I keep my teeth forever?” The answer is always the same: brush twice a day, floss once a day, and visit your dentist every 6 months like clockwork. It seems too simple, but diligent, consistent preventative care is the best way to protect your teeth from decay and keep them healthy for your entire life.
Basic Home Care
A well-rounded home care routine is essential to maintaining oral health because teeth are used multiple times a day. They collect food particles, which attract bacteria that produce acids that eat away at the tooth enamel. Fortunately, bruising and flossing every day as directed by your dentist does a great job of removing most of the food and bacteria from on and between teeth.
Don’t Skip the Floss!
Flossing is especially important to maintaining healthy gums because cleaning between teeth with just a toothbrush is impossible. In fact, if you are not flossing, you are leaving up to 40% of the surface area of your teeth untouched. Dental floss is the best way to ensure that food and debris get cleared away from between teeth, preventing harmful bacteria from causing decay and irritating your gums.
Call in the Professionals
Brushing for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once a day is usually enough to maintain your teeth and gums between professional cleanings, which should be scheduled every 6 months for most patients. During a professional cleaning, we use special techniques to remove any plaque and calculus that brushing and flossing missed. We also check your teeth for decay and your gums for any signs of disease, like redness or swelling. At least once a year, we will take digital X-rays and pictures of your teeth and mouth to ensure that everything looks healthy under the surface.
It Really Makes a Difference
When you get semiannual cleanings and examinations year after year, you minimize your risk of:
- tooth decay,
- tooth loss,
- gum disease, and
- oral infections.
This routine also protects your physical health, lowering your risk of heart disease, other serious illnesses, and complications during pregnancy. With consistent preventative care, you can maintain a healthy smile for your entire life.
If you are due for a cleaning, please call our office located in Chesterfield, MI. We would love to schedule an appointment to keep you on track for lifelong oral health.
