Maintaining good oral health is crucial for protecting your overall well-being. Dental infections have a strong relationship with some cardiac conditions, making keeping your teeth clean important. Although sticking to a routine of brushing twice per day helps, it only forms part of the picture. To fully protect your health, you need to make regular visits to your dentist. Here's how they can help with preventive dental care.
Early Detection and Diagnosis
One of your dentist's primary responsibilities is to identify and tackle infections at the earliest opportunity. Routine checkups usually involve examining your teeth, gums and oral tissues. All these areas can show signs of oral infections, and if your dentist finds one they'll introduce appropriate treatment. Using the early interventions your dentist provides ensures you avoid the need for more intensive interventions further down the line.
Professional Teeth Cleaning
Professional teeth cleaning is about much more than ensuring your enamel feels shiny and fresh. The aim of cleaning is to remove plaque, which is a big contributor to gum disease and other dental infections. Plaque may also increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. A professional cleaning may also prevent bad breath, which should make your daily cleaning efforts more effective.
Dental X-Rays and Diagnostic Tests
Your dentist can use X-rays to form a more comprehensive picture of your oral health. X-rays can show areas of significant decay and can indicate whether your dental team needs to perform a procedure such as a filling or a root canal. X-rays are also useful for showing early signs of bone loss, which can become especially problematic when going through life events like menopause. The earlier your dentist obtains such information, the easier it is for them to protect your long-term health.
Customising Preventive Care
Although most people can benefit from the same types of preventive strategies, many require individualised plans. For example, if you're suffering from the early signs of gum disease, your dentist can introduce you to preventive mouthwashes. Similarly, if you have oral sensitivity they can recommend products and brushing techniques that reduce it. When it comes to preventive care, getting a personalised plan from your dentist can help you gain control of your oral health and ensure your teeth stay strong for longer.
To get the most from your dentist's preventive services, make sure you visit them regularly. Additionally, if you experience dental pain, contact them at the earliest opportunity. For more information, contact a dentist near you.
Share19 June 2023
I have worked as a school nurse for decades. Children come to me with all sorts of scrapes and bumps and bruises. Black eyes from playing football, sprained wrists from falling off the monkey bars and stomachaches from too many sweets are common complaints. However, the issue that seems to cause the greatest angst is tooth problems. Sometimes a child will have a second tooth knocked out when playing sport and parents arrive in tears. At other times, children come to my office crying because their friends are teasing them about teeth that are discoloured or stick out. I take an active interest in the latest dental news so that I can give parents and children comfort and advice. I have included some of my collected wisdom on these pages. Perhaps this information can help you understand some options when faced with a dental problem. Thank you for reading.