Extend the Lifespan of Your Teeth with Preventive Dentistry
Preventive dentistry refers to dental services designed to support long-term good oral health. Although all dental services are essential in the maintenance and care of your teeth, preventative dental care helps avert problems before they ever start to keep your smile looking its best year after year. This includes the prevention of dental caries, tooth infections, and gum disease. Preventive dentistry services from Mid-Valley Dental Care in Northridge, California, can help extend the lifespan of your teeth.
What does preventive dentistry involve?
The primary focus of preventive dental care is maintaining a healthy smile. Often, preventive dentistry involves at-home and professional dental care. At our office, we help you maintain your oral health with the following services.
- Dental cleanings: Do you brush and floss your teeth daily? You rock! However, no matter how long you clean your teeth at home, you cannot reach every tooth surface. Professional dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar in hard-to-reach areas.
- Routine exams: Routine dental check-ups allow the dentist to inspect your teeth and gums for signs of infections, decay, misalignments, etc. Regular visits allow us to detect and treat issues before they appear instead of waiting until they become costly and painful.
- Oral cancer screenings: Our mouth cancer screenings are quick and painless, but they can save a life. They help identify early signs of cancer, ensuring that the condition is addressed at the earliest, most treatable stage.
- Identify poor oral habits: We check on poor oral habits like aggressive brushing, bruxism, and smoking, which can have dire consequences for your oral health.
Why does preventive dentistry matter?
Preventive dental care is the most cost-effective method for maintaining a healthy smile. It protects your smile from oral infections, decay, bad breath, injuries, and other problems. Moreover, preventive dentistry saves you money, protects your systemic health, and maintains your beautiful smile.
How can I care for my smile at home?
At-home dental care is the foundation of a healthy smile. This lifelong routine includes daily brushing and flossing to maintain optimal oral hygiene. Use fluoride toothpaste and brush for at least two minutes to ensure thorough cleaning. While an electric toothbrush is often recommended for its efficiency, a properly used manual toothbrush can be just as effective.
Furthermore, ensure you eat a dental-friendly diet, limiting your sugary and dietary foods intake. Include veggies, fruits, dairy products, and other foods. Lastly, quit smoking and avoid using your teeth to chew or bite hard substances.
How often should I visit a dentist?
Some people only think they should see a dentist when in pain or there’s an obvious problem. However, you should see a dentist every two times in a year. If you are at risk of gum disease or tooth decay, the dentist will recommend more frequent visits, usually 3-4 times annually. Minor issues progress into full-blown problems without regular visits, requiring advanced therapeutic treatments.
What happens if I skip routine dental visits?
Many bad things can happen. Plaque accumulates and calcifies into tartar, starting a destructive cycle in the mouth. Skipping regular dental visits puts you at risk of gum disease, tooth decay, bad breath, TMJ pain, and other problems.
Where can I schedule a dental appointment?
Do you need to improve your oral health with preventive dentistry? Call (818) 886-3500 to schedule an appointment with Mid-Valley Dental Care of Northridge, California.
