Preventative dental care aims to keep the teeth and gums healthy, without any noticeable signs of cavities, gum disease, or other types of tooth decay.
What is Preventative dental care?
Preventative Dental Care is an important step in maintaining a healthy mouth. When we say preventative, we mean taking precautionary measures to avoid or minimize pain or suffering from medical conditions.
This kind of dental care involves education and awareness about good oral hygiene practices such as brushing teeth twice per day, flossing daily, and having regular visits.
Compare Preventative vs Basic dental care
Preventative dental care usually consists of more frequent dental check-ups, x-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, etc., which are all necessary for maintaining good oral hygiene.
Basic dental care consists of brushing teeth with an appropriate toothbrush and using a mouthwash, which is effective in removing plaque build-up but does not address some other problems that may develop.
Compare Preventative vs Routine dental care
Preventative dental care is the use of certain precautionary measures to prevent future dental health problems. It is significant to acknowledge that such care also protects your overall health since the poor health of teeth and gums can influence overall well-being. The most common procedures are regular exams, dental cleaning, x-rays, sealants, etc.
On the other hand, routine dental care is more about managing an existing dental issue or condition. It can include scaling & root planning, restorative treatments, oral surgery, dentures, bridgework, etc.
What does preventative dental care include?
It is a process that aims to reduce the risk of bacteria and decay by removing plaque and tartar. For this purpose, your dentist will guide you on how to manage a proper oral routine at home and advise getting regular check-ups and cleanings.
For at-home care, you will be guided on the proper way of brushing and flossing. You can also ask your dentist what kind of toothbrush is ideal for use, what toothpaste or mouthwash to use, etc. Regular visits for an examination of the teeth and gums allow the dentist to ensure that no oral health issue is developing. If it is, it is likely to get diagnosed in earlier stages.
What are examples of preventative care for your teeth?
This is a combination of efforts both at the dentist’s and patient’s end. Your dentist’s role is to guide you on the proper ways to maintain teeth health, schedule regular dental visits, and perform teeth cleanings and routine x-rays.
During dental exams, the dentist looks for signs of decay, cavities, and even the health of your jaw and surrounding tissues. Teeth cleanings ensure that any build-up that brushing or flossing could not remove is also eliminated. Dental x-rays provide more detailed information on the health of your mouth. It becomes easier to detect any signs that may not have been evident otherwise.
The patient’s role is to follow the precautionary advice of the dentist. They should strictly follow an oral care routine at home, which includes brushing and flossing the right way and the required number of times. Maintaining a balanced diet, which benefits the health of teeth and gums, and avoiding food and beverages that may harm oral health are also examples of preventative dental care.
Get in contact with Dr. Nick Addario in Chula Vista to learn more about preventative dental care.