Practicing Healthy Preventative Dentistry

Preventive dentistry is a team effort. It works best when you and your dentist and your oral hygienist are working in unison and communicating effectively.  Regular dental checkups provide the foundation for effective preventative dental care, but they work best when everyone is using the same playbook.  When it’s done correctly, effective preventative care is the key to protecting the longevity of your teeth so they can last you a lifetime.

Preventative Dental Care Is Good For Your Health

Here’s some more good news.  Visiting your dentist will also benefit your overall health.  In fact, a recent study from researchers at UC Berkeley suggests that “women who get dental care reduce their risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems by at least one third.” Further studies have also linked poor dental hygiene to increased incidents of dementia, respiratory disease and complications during pregnancy.

Cleaning And Screening; Why Regular Dental Checkups Are So Important

A comprehensive dental checkup includes at least two essential elements, a cleaning and a screening.  First, your dental hygienist will fully clean and polish your teeth.  An indispensable part of this treatment is the eradication of the plaque which sticks to your teeth.  This rough, hard substance must be removed because it can lead to gum disease.  If gum disease is allowed to flourish, it can jeopardize the health of your entire mouth and eventually cause you to lose some or all of your teeth.

Visit Your Dentist For A Checkup At Least Twice A Year

To protect your smile, you should visit your dentist at least twice a year.  A regular dental examination typically entails the following:

• Regular cleaning from a dental hygienist will reduce cavities and protect you from gum disease
• X-rays aid early detection of cavities
• Your dental office staff will provide you with useful dental hygiene tips
• You will protect your overall health
• It provides essential early oral cancer screening

Fluoride Treatments Provide An Additional Level Of Cavity Prevention

Fluoride is a “mineral that helps prevent caries and can repair teeth in the very early, microscopic stages of the disease.”   Fluoride is an active ingredient in many toothpastes and mouthrinses and many communities already add it to their drinking water in order to provide extra protection from cavities, particularly for younger people.

A fluoride treatment offers an additional level of treatment for preventing cavities that is administered by dental care professionals during a regular dental visit.  The fluoride used for this purpose is much stronger concentration than the fluoride in toothpastes or mouthrinses and it generally comes in gel, foam, or varnish form.

Periodontal Exams Will Help Your Teeth Will Last A Lifetime

If your gums are red and bleeding or if they cause you pain while eating or brushing, you probably suffer from some form of gum disease.  Bad breath can also be a signal that you have gum disease.  This is why a periodontal evaluation is one of the most important services your dentist provides.

A periodontal evaluation simply means that your dentist is looking for early signs of gum disease and working on ways to treat the condition.  Gum disease, also known a gingivitis or periodontitis, is the largest treatable cause of tooth loss.

Why You Need Regular Oral Cancer Screenings

Screening for oral cancer is one of the most important functions of your regular dental office check-up that you won’t get anywhere else.  In fact, oral cancer screenings provided by your dentist along with regular dental checkups can actually save your life.

In order to search for early signs of oral cancer, your dentist will check your entire oral cavity, which includes

your lips, cheek lining, gums, front part of your tongue, floor of the mouth beneath the tongue and the hard palate that makes up the roof of your mouth. The throat (pharynx) starts at the soft part of the roof of your mouth and continues back into your throat. It includes the back section of your tongue, as well as the base where the tongue attaches to the floor of your mouth.

Early Cancer Detection Is Invaluable

Early cancer detection is invaluable, as it may result in better treatment outcomes and may help keep you or someone you love from becoming one of the 9,750 people whose lives may be claimed this year by the disease.

Men are more than twice as likely as women to get oral cancer and other factors such as smoking and drinking excessively can dramatically increase the likelihood that a person will develop oral cancer.  So these are two lifestyle choices people can make to reduce the possibility that they will get oral cancer.

Signs That You May Be Suffering From Oral Cancer

Here are some signs that you may be suffering from oral cancer:

• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your tongue or jaw
• A cold sore or other irritation will not go away
• Red or white spots on your mouth, gums, or throat
• Pain or numbness in mouth or lips
• Persistent soreness or irritation
• Any rough spots, lumps, or corroded areas
• Any change in the way your teeth fit together when your mouth is closed

However, your dentist is the best qualified person to detect early sings of oral cancer.  This is another good reason why you should schedule your appointment to get a checkup with Dr. Grubb right away.

What You Can Do At Home To Protect Your Smile

Another great reason to see your dentist and your oral hygienist at least twice a year is because they will provide you with useful oral hygiene tips that will help prevent cavities and gums disease.  When you and your dentist work together, it’s the best way to ensure that your healthy smile will last a lifetime.

An effective regimen of good oral hygiene includes the following components:

• Twice-daily brushing and flossing
• Using a toothpaste and a mouthrinse that contains fluoride
• Eating a healthy, balanced diet with limited between-meal snacking
• Having your kids under 12 drink fluoridated water or take a fluoride supplement

Time To Get Proactive About Your Dental Care

So now that you’ve learned so much about preventative dental care, isn’t it time to call Dr. Grubb’s office and make your appointment for a checkup right away?