North Bethesda Dentist

Preventive dental care is vital in avoiding the emergence or progression of any dental issue. In dentistry, just like in the other branches of medicine, preventive care is one of the most important tools of disease management. Pike District Smiles, your North Bethesda dentist, advocates for preventive dental care, helping patients practice ideal oral health care.

What is preventive dental care?

Preventive dental care refers to the practice of taking good care of your teeth, gums, and overall oral structure to help mitigate the occurrence of any dental disease or condition. 

For the ideal oral hygiene and health, it is important to strictly follow the laid out recommendations that include practices and routines.

Preventive Dentistry Measures

There are many forms of preventive dental care, all focusing on preventing the occurrence of dental conditions and diseases. Your North Bethesda dentist advocates the following dental preventive measure.

Regular Teeth Brushing

Brushing your teeth is one of the basic preventive procedures that some people take for granted. Dentists recommend that you should brush your teeth at least twice daily after meals. Teeth brushing should also include cleaning of your gums and tongue. 

Proper brushing of your teeth removes the remains of food particles from the surface and from in between the teeth. In left untouched, the food leftovers accumulate on the surface and in between teeth, forming plaque. Plaque attracts bacteria that break it down, forming acids that erode the tooth. Over time, the erosion of the tooth enamel results in massive tooth decay or gum disease. Regular and routine teeth cleaning is, therefore, an essential toot of ensuring you prevent dental diseases.

Flossing

Dental flossing ensures you get rid of retained food particles from in between the teeth that were otherwise not removed by teeth brushing. Doctors recommend flossing at least once a day to prevent the occurrence of dental disease. Flossing helps remove retained food particles after meals, which is a vital step in the prevention of dental diseases.

Routine Dental Visits

Dental checkups are part of preventive dental care. During the visits, the doctor takes a detailed history of your oral hygiene measures. The dentist will also perform a thorough dental examination and assessment. During the dental examination, the doctor can pick up signs of an emerging dental disease or establish an existing disease. 

Early detection and diagnosis help in preventing the progress of the ailment, as the doctor will come up with the best management option. The dentist will also provide you with essential health education tips during the dental visit, equipping you with knowledge of maintaining a healthy oral status. It is vital, therefore, to observe the recommended two dental visits per year as a preventive dental care practice.

Maintaining Healthy Lifestyle Habits

Some lifestyle habits necessitate the emergence and progression of several types of oral disease and other health issues. The notable harmful lifestyle habit is excessive cigarette smoking. The nicotine and other substances from the cigarette smoke leave permanent stains on the tooth surface, significantly altering the appearance. The tartar from cigarettes also results in tooth decay over time. 

In addition, excessive alcohol intake is also associated with several forms of dental ailments. To maintain proper oral health and hygiene status, you need to detest from harmful lifestyle vices like cigarette smoking and alcohol intake.

Your Diet

What you eat daily will either promote or inhibit your dental health status. For strong, healthy teeth, ensure you take in meals rich in calcium supplements. It is also important that you avoid high sugar content foodstuff like candy that is related to tooth decay over time. The sugar attracts bacteria that break it down, forming acids that corrode the teeth structure, eventually destroying the entire tooth. Ensure you eat a balanced diet and avoid sugar-based meals to prevent the emergence of dental diseases. 

Drink  Water

Water is an essential part of our dietary intake that many take for granted. In oral health, water is useful in helping keep the mouth clean and prevents the occurrence of several forms of dental disease. Drinking safe and clean water is, therefore, an important preventive dental care procedure that should be observed.

Learn More

Pike District Smiles, your North Bethesda Dentist, is at the forefront of highlighting, promoting, and encouraging preventive dental care practices. Learn more by scheduling a consultation today. Call 301-979-9071 or schedule an appointment online here.