What is Preventive Dentistry?
Preventive Dentistry is a branch of dentistry which includes the caring of the teeth to keep them healthy and avoid cavities, wear of tooth enamel and gum diseases.
The dentist would recommend lots of measures of prevention and care of the teeth and oral cavity, like brushing daily and regular dental cleanings. The patient is advised to visit the dentist at least twice a year to be examined. These practices will ensure clean, strong and white teeth. The dentist would also recommend that the children be taught oral hygiene practices from a young age.
How can you prevent dental problems?
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Brushing Teeth Daily:
The dentists recommend brushing teeth daily with fluoride toothpaste. The toothbrushes have to be replaced after every 2-3 months. The tongue should also be brushed or cleaned daily since this will remove all the bacteria in the mouth and also freshen the breath.
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Daily Flossing:
Flossing daily will help clean the tight spaces and gaps between the teeth. For patients with braces, floss threaders are recommended since they can go between the metal braces. Flossing must be done the right way to get the best results. Always check with the dentist to learn the correct way.
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Dental Visits:
Regular dental visits at least twice a year to the dentist can help maintain healthy teeth & gums and oral cavity. It can help detect dental problems at an early stage thus preventing the severity of the issues and the costly procedures involved.
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Balanced Diet:
The patients are recommended to eat a balanced diet to protect their teeth using the nutrients that they consume. It is recommended that sugar is limited especially simple carbohydrates like white bread. Drink the right amount of water throughout the day. Oral Health depends on vitamins. Always eat a varied diet so that it can supply the vitamins required for the body.
Benefits of Preventive Dentistry
The different benefits of prevention and care are:
- Maintain a good oral health
- Reduce the risk of diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis
- Prevent cavities of the teeth and also loss of tooth enamel
- It also prevent secondary problems that are caused by poor oral health
- It can also help prevent diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, osteoporosis, respiratory diseases and even cancer.
- In some cases, poor oral health has been contributed to premature birth and low birth. So by maintaining good oral health during pregnancy can prevent these risks.
- This will help prevent diseases and other dental conditions that can cause difficulties in the future, like reducing the risk of costly treatments and eliminate the need for procedures like filling, root canal therapy or dental implants.
Authored By Dr Sanjay N - Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Bangalore
