General Dentistry Overview
Regular preventive care and early intervention as indicated are the best ways to avoid serious long-term dental complications. Proper home care (daily brushing, flossing, etc.) is the first step toward good dental health, but even with optimal home care, problems can develop. Plaque or tartar (calculus or mineralized plaque) appears over time on everyone’s teeth, and it can cause a wide variety of problems. Additionally, some other significant dental issues can be asymptomatic but continue to deteriorate steadily and quietly without timely intervention. Regular professional visits are the best way to address this issue. This way, basic tooth and gum health can be maintained, and potentially serious problems can be dealt with as early as possible. Regular cleaning & check-ups are a good way to minimize the expense, pain, and inconvenience associated with simple and potentially advanced dental problems.
The Lifelong Importance of Regular Dental Check-ups
We want our patients to know that professional dental care is important throughout every person’s life, but everyone has the right to choose and pursue their own level of dental health. This is what we mean when we describe ourselves as a person-oriented practice. Dental health is important no matter how old you are. Regular professional care is the best way to avoid complications and more invasive dentistry later in life. It is advisable to undergo professional cleaning & a check-up every six months. Some patients may have their teeth cleaned more often, if their periodontal (gum) health warrants it.
Good childhood dental care is especially important because it establishes practices & habits for the rest of a person’s life. It is important for children to know how to take care of their own teeth & also see the importance of long-term professional care. By helping our children learn these things, we can set them on the path to solid long-term dental health.
Diet and Oral Hygiene
According to the American Dental Health Association, foods and drinks that benefit your muscles & bones are also good for teeth and gums. Calcium & vitamin D help strengthen & re-mineralize the teeth; these ingredients can be found in most dairy products. Grains are a good source of vitamin B, which is important for healthy gum tissue. Fruits & vegetables provide vitamin C, which has a similar effect. Basic foods like milk & cheese raise the pH value of the mouth, preventing damage from acids. In fact, all food promotes saliva production, which helps maintain optimal pH value.
Exposure to sugar and acidic foods cause the most damage to teeth over time. It is important to remember that the amount of sugar consumed in a sitting is somewhat less important than how often the teeth are exposed, since it is exposure over time that leads to tooth decay. When sugar is present in the mouth, bacteria are able to use it for food, which allows them to multiply. Limiting the amount of time teeth are exposed to sugars and acidic sources (sodas are a primary troublemaker) are a very good way to reduce chances for tooth decay.
