Take the steps to prevent the worst

People hear the horror stories and dangers of tooth decay, gingivitis or other dental diseases but may not realize that they are susceptible to all of them. Lackadaisical dental care only increases the risk of these dental health issues and requires extensive dental treatment. Shrugging off the threat of dental diseases or believing that they only affect serious cases, is the worst thing one can do.

Dental procedures for a checkup

Shrugging off proper dental hygiene or avoiding professional dental checkups helps plaque buildup on the teeth and cause infections. People may not realize the danger until it is in the later stages and will have to go through extensive treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, find that from 2011 to 2012 17.5 percent of children ages 5 to 19 and 27 percent of adults 20 to 44 had untreated dental caries (tooth decay). By visiting a preventive dentist, the patient can keep clean and healthy teeth. More importantly, a preventative dentist can catch the early signs of an infection or disease and prevent it from spreading.

Mouthhealthy.org also adds that regular dental visits “help prevent many problems from developing in the first place.” In other cases, symptoms can develop to show that a dental visit is more urgent than before. Mouthhealthy.org lists some of these signs to include:

• Teeth that are sensitive to hot or cold
• Consistently dry mouth or bad breath
• Pain or swelling in the face, mouth or neck
• Gums are puffy and/or bleed when brushing or flossing
• Pain while chewing or swallowing
• The jaw sometimes pops upon opening or closing the mouth

During a dental visit, the preventative dentist will clean one’s teeth, remove any signs of infection and help ensure that the patient leaves in better condition than when he or she arrived.

Proper dental care starts at home

While the priority of a preventative dentist is to prevent infection, there is only so much that one can do to clean a patient’s teeth. After all, a patient will not be in the dentist’s office every day of the week. One way for a patient to keep his or her teeth healthy and continue to prevent dental infection is by practicing proper dental hygiene at home.

Even though it can seem simple, it is easy to forget to brush once or both times in a day. “To keep your teeth and gums healthy, always be sure to brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush,” mouthhealthy.org explains. Brushing not only helps remove food particles and plaque off of the teeth but can prevent plaque from growing on the teeth.

Along with brushing twice a day, patients will greatly benefit from flossing once a day as well. “By flossing once a day, you help to remove plaque from between your teeth in areas where the toothbrush can't reach,” mouthhealthy.org explains. While there is some controversy over the effectiveness of flossing, one merely needs to apply common sense to the issue. After eating a meal, brush and floss after. See how much stuff comes out from between the teeth after flossing.

It takes all three actions of brushing twice a day, flossing once a day and visiting a preventive dentist at least once every six months to remain in pristine dental health. By consistently cleaning one’s teeth, one will be able to save money on extensive dental procedures and remain healthy in the process. If you or a loved one is in need of a dental checkup, call our office and schedule an appointment.

Kevin J Daily DDS

At Kevin J Daily DDS in Santa Cruz, CA, we will customize your treatment to match your needs and schedule. Our professional staff creates a calm atmosphere for you during the appointment and treatment process. If you have any questions or are unsure of what is causing the pain in your teeth, do not hesitate to call us.

We will answer any questions and make sure you get all of the necessary information. We can help prevent damage to your teeth and set you on track for a lifetime of pristine oral health. At Kevin J Daily, your experience with us and your dental health are our prime concern.