The Importance of Preventative Dental Care

Preventive dental care refers to the habits and routines you put in place to care for your teeth. These routines help prevent common oral issues and costly procedures for correcting the damage that develops due to the conditions.

It is also important to your overall health because your mouth can influence other body parts. Poor oral health can lead to other conditions with far-reaching consequences, like heart disease.

Preventive Dental Care Routines

Brush Daily

Brushing your teeth daily with approved toothpaste is the cornerstone of preventive dental care. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends fluoride toothpaste that they have approved.

When you brush your teeth, remember to also brush your tongue to eliminate as much bacteria as possible. Changing your toothbrush every three to four months or as soon as the bristles start fraying is also a good idea.

Floss Daily

Flossing every day is the second routine that is almost as important as brushing. When you floss, you remove all the food particles stuck between your teeth. These food particles can cause bad breath or tooth decay and cavities. Floss threaders are essential if you have braces because they help you get between the wires and brackets.

 

Regular Dental Visits

Regular dental visits are also critical to preventing any issues with your oral health. Depending on your current oral health, your dentist will recommend an ideal schedule for your visits. They will evaluate your oral structure and perform a dental cleaning during dental visits.

 

Eat a Balanced Diet

The food you eat influences your dental health significantly. Dentists typically recommend a balanced diet with low sugar content and plenty of water intake.

What Are the Benefits of Preventive Dental Care?

Preventive dental care has three primary goals: preventing dental and secondary health issues and saving money.

 

Preventing Dental Issues

Preventing dental care is critical in keeping your mouth and teeth healthy and harmful bacteria-free. Most dental problems develop over time before they become major problems. Keeping these at bay or preventing them from developing is the best strategy to keep your teeth until old age. Some of the most common issues that preventive dental care protects you from are:

 

• Cavities

• Enamel loss

• Gingivitis

• Periodontitis
  
   

Preventing Secondary Health Issues

Dentists and healthcare providers have found a link between poor dental health and other conditions. They have found that poor oral health can cause fatal conditions and worsen others. Some of the common conditions linked to poor oral health include:

 

• Cardiac disease

• Respiratory disease

• Diabetes

• Osteoporosis

• Cancer
  
   

Saving You Money

You will ultimately spend less money if you take care of your dental health and avoid the problems described above. Treating some of these conditions may not cost much, but it is more than you would use to prevent them.

Others, like periodontitis, which causes tooth loss, can be expensive when you need to replace your teeth. Secondary health issues are also expensive to manage once they develop and lower your life quality.


 

For more on the importance of preventative dental care, visit Fei Hwang, D.D.S., Milpitas Family and Cosmetic Dentist, at our office in Milpitas, California. Call (408) 729-7882 to book an appointment today.