It all boils down to this question – would you rather pay a small amount to maintain good quality oral health, or wait until the pain in your mouth is uncomfortable or unbearable and pay a large amount to fix bigger problems that arise with your oral health? Preventative care is hugely important for everyone to avoid bigger problems that could involve emergency dental appointments, which cost much more than your 6-month professional cleanings.
So, what is preventative dental care?
Preventative care is getting ahead of health issues before they become a bigger problem. Tooth decay and gum disease are the biggest issues that daily preventative care will help with, but if left unresolved, they can lead to much bigger issues such as root canals and possibly the removal of teeth. Preventative care includes daily brushing and flossing at home and your 6-month professional teeth cleaning.
How can I keep dental care costs down and still improve my oral health?
There are many ways to keep your teeth clean and healthy aside from visiting the dentist for your professional cleanings. Your diet can impact the decay of your teeth, mainly the sugar and acids that are in foods that you eat. Fruits, vegetables, cheese, and nuts are the best foods for your teeth and can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Smoking greatly impacts your teeth and gums, causing tooth staining, tooth loss, mouth cancer, and gum disease. It’s best for your oral health to quit smoking overall.
Preventative care is very important in maintaining those teeth of yours. Take care of your teeth and gums at home every single day and your oral health will improve significantly. We recommend that you brush your teeth twice a day – once with fluoride toothpaste without rinsing your mouth so the fluoride stays on your teeth, floss at least once a day, and use mouthwash once a day as well with fluoride to prevent gum disease. Plaque starts to build up on your teeth just minutes after you brush them. At the very minimum, brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day are great steps toward improving your teeth and gum health, along with visiting your dentist twice a year.
