The key for preventing gum diseases and tooth decay is through taking preventative and early detection measures. By exercising proper care of your teeth at home and seeing a dentist regularly for cleanings and exams, you can spare yourself costly and uncomfortable dental treatments in the future.
One of the ways you can prevent dental problems is by controlling plaque and calculus, which are the sources of tooth decay and mouth diseases. Plaque is a colorless bacteria that sticks to the surfaces of your teeth while calculus which is a hard material that’s deposited on teeth. Both of these are dangers to your oral health and can be eliminated through a proper oral-care routine.
Cleaning
To keep your teeth healthy, you should visit a dental hygienist for regular dental cleanings, which is a preventive procedure. Cleaning removes plaque and tartar, thereby protecting your teeth against gingivitis and other periodontal diseases.
Your dentist will use different types of tools depending on how much tartar and plaque has built up on your teeth. If the buildup is heavy, he will use an ultrasonic device to scrape off the buildup. If the buildup is moderate, he will use manual tools to do the cleaning.
After scaling off the buildup, he finishes by polishing to remove stains and leave the surface of your teeth feeling clean and refreshed.
Other preventive procedures
Dental Exams
Though you might have a very strict at-home oral care regimen, it’s important to see your dentist twice a year for dental exams.
Without performing regular dental exams, you can never be too sure that your dental health is good. The main aim of a dental exam is early detection of problems which allows for appropriate treatment.
If your dental problems are detected early, the treatment process will be easier, less costly and more effective.
During a dental exam, the dentist does the following:
- Looks for signs of unhealthiness or gum disease.
- Ensures there are no signs of tooth decay.
- Takes x-rays to determine whether you have dental problems such as bone loss, decay or tumors.
- Ensures you have no signs of oral cancer.
- Determines how strong and suitable existing restorations such as crowns and bridges are.
Based on what your dentist finds during the dental exams, he will recommend appropriate treatment procedures to further stem the problem.
Sealing
Teeth are sealed by applying resin to the chewing surfaces in order to protect them from plaque and damage-causing acids. The resin adheres into the grooves of your teeth to form a natural appearance and to ensure you have normal bite.
When your teeth are sealed, the sealant will last long and will only need to be reapplied after several years.
Daily oral care
Another important preventive procedure is oral care. It involves the following:
- Brushing
Plaque builds up on your teeth every time you eat or drink anything. You can remove these deposits by brushing your teeth twice a day. If you don’t brush your teeth, this could lead to tooth decay and gum diseases.
- Flossing
After brushing your teeth, you have to floss in order to reach the areas that a tooth brush cannot reach.
- Mouth Rinse
Mouth rinses should be used in combination with flossing in order to remove food particles and eliminate bad breath.
