Many people think dentistry is focused on fixing oral health problems, but the best dentists work to make sure you never have these problems in the first place.
Your dentist in Mississauga can help you improve and maintain your oral health with preventative dentistry services. These procedures can keep your teeth and gums intact, improve your overall health, and even save you money.
What is Preventative Dentistry?
Preventative dentistry is the process of helping patients maintain good oral health. It includes proactive home care practices such as brushing and flossing, and regular visits to your dentist’s office. The idea is to reduce the amount of plaque present in the mouth each day, making it harder for problems like tooth decay to set in.
Your dentist can provide preventative dentistry services to boost the effectiveness of your home care efforts. These include:
- Dental cleanings every six months or as directed
- Oral health exams, including gum assessments and cancer screenings
- Regular dental X-rays to catch problems early
Some patients also benefit from additional preventative services such as habit counselling and dietary guidance. Your dentist will let you know if they feel that you could use this extra guidance.
It is important to note that preventative dental services are often covered by insurance. Even very minimal plans usually cover most of the cost of a cleaning and dental exam.
What Does Preventative Dentistry Do?
As the name suggests, preventative dentistry’s primary goal is to prevent oral health issues. By caring for your teeth and gums daily, you are much less likely to develop serious problems like:
- Tooth Decay
- Gingivitis
- Periodontitis
- Enamel Loss
- Cracked or broken teeth
What Are the Benefits of Preventative Dentistry?
Preventative dentistry also has other benefits beyond improving the condition of your teeth and gums. Throughout your lifetime, it can lower your risk of the following conditions:
- Heart disease
- Respiratory disease
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Certain types of cancer
- Complications during pregnancy
- Mental health problems due to low self-esteem
Preventative dentistry can also save you money by reducing the number of expensive dental problems you need to treat. Root canals, crowns, and dental implants are more costly than standard cleaning appointments, and less likely to be covered by insurance. Taking care of your mouth may cost more now, but it is rarely more expensive than the cost of the problems it prevents.
Remember that preventative dentistry is only effective when it is sustained. If you do not follow your dentist’s recommendations, you will eventually lose the protection that good oral health provides. You must keep up your efforts to continue enjoying their benefits throughout your lifetime.
Preventative Dentistry Best Practices
Regardless of your prior oral health history, you can easily implement preventative dentistry practices into your daily routine right now. Starting today, be sure to:
Brush Your Teeth Daily
Brushing your teeth each day is the best thing you can do for your oral health. Brushing helps remove plaque from your teeth and delivers fluoride to strengthen your enamel and reverse early decay. For the best results, brush twice a day for a minimum of two minutes. Be sure to spend an equal amount of time in each quadrant of your mouth. An electric toothbrush with a timer can help you coordinate this if you are having trouble.
Floss Daily
Brushing alone is not enough. It is essential to floss each day as well. Flossing pulls out bacteria and food particles trapped between your teeth and under your gum line, cleaning the parts of your mouth that a toothbrush cannot reach. Remember to guide the floss all the way down to the base of the tooth and back up again each time. Simply snapping the floss through the contacts between your teeth will not provide an effective clean.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Foods that are high in sugar and refined carbohydrates cause extra plaque to form in your mouth, leading to tooth decay, tartar buildup, and gum disease over time. Cutting items like cookies, candy, crackers, and white bread from your diet can significantly improve your overall health and lay the groundwork for better oral health in the future.
Who Benefits from Preventative Dentistry?
Since good oral health starts at a young age, kids benefit the most from preventative dentistry. However, it is never too late to start building better oral health habits. Patients of all ages can achieve healthier mouths and prevent future problems by prioritizing good oral health habits.
Protect Your Future Oral Health at the Best Dental Clinic in Mississauga
Preventative dentistry is an investment in your oral health, and it will often have an impact on your wallet as well. Maintaining your teeth and gums does not have to be an expensive process, and the sooner you start taking care of your mouth, the healthier you will be.
Now is the time to visit the best dentist in Mississauga for preventative dentistry services. Trillium Smile Dentistry’s knowledgeable staff provides all the services you need to get your oral health on track.
Let Trillium Smile Dentistry Help You With:
- Home Dental Care guidance to help you optimize your oral health habits
- Diet Counselling to get you eating more tooth-friendly foods
- Oral Cancer Screenings to catch any early signs of disease
- Periodontal Maintenance Programs to keep your gums as firm and healthy as possible
Contact us today at 905-828-9894 or through our online form and take your first steps toward better oral health for life.
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