Preventative care is the core of your oral health. Brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist are all extremely important things to keep your teeth healthy. At Premier Dental Care and Implant Centers, dentist in Lancaster and Palmdale, CA, we want to highlight the basics of preventative care and why it’s important.
Regular Dental Cleanings and Checkups
If you brush and floss regularly at home, you may not believe that bi-annual visits to the dentist for a dental cleaning and checkup are necessary. However, these visits are more crucial than you think.
For starters, dental cleaning uses specific tools that are designed to get rid of built-up plaque and tartar in places that are hard for you to reach. You may not be able to clean these areas well with a traditional toothbrush. Plaque and tartar buildup can lead to problems with tooth decay and gum disease. Plus, nothing beats the clean feeling you have when leaving the dental office!
But cleanings aren’t the only things that happen during these checkups. Oral cancer screenings are done when you’re in the chair. Particularly if it’s in the early stages, oral cancer can be hard to diagnose. Sores or red and white patches in your mouth can be brushed away as ulcers. It takes a dental professional to realize a problem early, leading to more conservative treatment options being available.
If you’re going to the dentist regularly, they’re also able to track the development and changes in your smile. When problems are discovered early, they’re easier to treat. Whether it’s something that can be treated with orthodontics or the beginnings of gum disease, we want to make sure your teeth are as healthy as possible.
Brushing and Flossing at Home
On the other hand, dental visits aren’t the only thing that you need to do for ideal oral health. An oral healthcare routine has to be followed at home as well. Brushing and flossing should take place at least twice a day. It’s even better if you do it after every meal. Food particles that get stuck in between the teeth, especially if they’re from sugary foods, can cause problems with tooth decay and gum disease.
When you eat sugary foods, harmful bacteria in your mouth feed off of them and emit an acidic byproduct. This is what causes dental cavities. If you aren’t brushing and flossing properly, food particles and bacteria can build up. If it does this around the gum line, it can lead to problems with gum disease, needing deep cleaning, or even surgical intervention.
Eating a Balanced Diet
Fresh fruits and vegetables are crucial to your overall health, as well as your smile. When you eat fibrous fresh vegetables and fruits, they help to clean the teeth, eliminating things that are trapped there. They help increase saliva output as well. Particularly if you’re eating something sugary or acidic, make sure you rinse your mouth with a long drink of water after.
Preventative Care at Your Lancaster and Palmdale, California Dentists
Make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your smile beautiful. Call us or schedule an appointment at our Lancaster or Palmdale office today.