Many people wait for dental issues to manifest before taking the necessary steps to address them. Often, when symptoms occur – either in the form of pain, bleeding or a cracked tooth – the issues are at an advanced stage that can lead to tooth loss or require expensive dental treatments to fix. The best way to ensure that your teeth and mouth remain healthy and strong is by following a preventative dental routine. A preventive approach to oral health can help you avoid painful problems and maintain your natural teeth. At Peak Dental Arts, we’re dedicated to empowering our patients to maintain healthy dental care practices.
What is Preventative Dental Care?
Preventative dental care is the practice of maintaining teeth and gums effectively to ward off decay, enamel wear, gum disease and other oral health problems. It focuses on taking care of your teeth to avoid serious dental issues down the road that result in tooth loss or expensive dental procedures. Preventive dental care involves a combination of regular dental care practices such as routine checkups, using dental sealants, wearing sports mouthguards and developing good oral care habits such as brushing, flossing and using mouthwash.
Ways an Effective Preventative Dental Routine Can Help You
Here are the ways in which an effective preventative dental routine can help you:
Fewer Cavities
Cavities can damage your teeth over time and affect your overall health and well-being. However, regular at-home brushing and flossing can stop cavities from developing in your mouth. You should also schedule regular dental appointments with your dentist. Professional teeth cleaning will remove the buildup of plaque and tartar from difficult-to-reach areas. Your dentist may also apply specialized tooth cavity treatments such as fluoride and dental sealants to further safeguard your teeth and minimize your chance of developing cavities down the road.
Reduced Risk of Gum Disease
When plaque and tartar accumulate on your teeth and along your gum line, you risk developing illnesses like gingivitis (gum inflammation) and periodontitis (more severe inflammation that can destroy gum and bone structure). Regular visits to a dentist will enable early detection of gum disease and allow your dentist to intervene and maintain your oral health. Fluoride treatments can also assist you in preventing gum disease by preventing erosion and making it simpler to fight off microorganisms that cause disease.
Early Identification of Jaw Issues
Identifying jaw issues early is another advantage of a preventative dental routine. You may be unaware that you have problems like bruxism (tooth grinding) or temporomandibular joint (TMJ). If these disorders are unchecked or ignored, they can eventually lead to headaches or – in extreme cases – a misaligned jaw. Regular visits to the dentist let them spot these symptoms early on and suggest the appropriate actions to stop them from getting worse.
Increased Confidence
Oral health problems can affect social interactions and impact your relationships with others. For example, bad breath and stained or misaligned teeth can be humiliating and unattractive, affecting your confidence in public. Maintaining good dental health by brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist once every six months for regular cleaning can help prevent cavities and eliminate bad breath. This, in turn, can promote a positive self-perception and improve your confidence.
Saved Money
Preventative dental care practices can help protect your oral and overall health and safeguard your wallet from high dental costs. Even though fillings, root canals, and dental implants may still be necessary occasionally, preventative dentistry can significantly lower the need for these pricey procedures. For example, if you put off seeing a dental cleaning appointment for a few years, you may have to pay more for an emergency root canal or filling when problems arise.
Fewer Major Health Problems
Many significant medical disorders have their roots in the mouth because of the harmful bacteria that can thrive there. Such bacteria can easily find their way into the bloodstream. Poor oral health has been linked to several secondary disorders, such as:
- Osteoporosis
- Cancer
- Heart conditions
- Respiratory disease
- Diabetes
Poor dental hygiene in pregnant women has also been linked to preterm birth and low birth weight. Practising preventative dental care significantly lowers your chance of developing cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis and other dental issues. That can, in turn, increase your chances of delivering a healthy baby.
Are You Looking For a Dentist in North Vancouver?
The comprehensive preventative dental care plan at Peak Dental Arts includes a complete review of medical and dental history and regular exams for patients of all ages. Our experienced North Vancouver dentists will advise you on how to prevent cavities, gum disease and other oral health issues.
Call us at 604-980-9999 or fill out our online form to make an appointment.
