Preventative Dentistry
Preventive dentistry in Goshen, IN, is routine dental care that will help you maintain your oral health and prevent disease over time. You should actively practice preventive dental care throughout your life to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
What Are the Components of Preventive Dental Care?
Preventive dental care is a combination of routine dental habits.
- Brushing twice a day.
- Flossing once a day.
- Regular dental visits twice a year.
- Fluoride treatments.
- Dental sealants to avoid dental erosion.
- Eating a healthy diet.
- Avoiding bad dental habits such as chewing on ice, pencils, opening packages with your teeth, etc.
Why Is Preventive Dental Care Important?
Preventive dental care will help you avoid gum disease, cavities, and enamel wear and reduce your chances of needing dental treatments such as fillings and extractions. Your dentist in Goshen, IN, will also use preventive dentistry to monitor you for mouth cancer and other potential dental issues.
The Benefits of Preventive Dental Care
In addition to helping you avoid gum disease, cavities, and enamel wear, preventive dental care also has other benefits.
- It encourages good dental habits starting at a young age.
- Your dentist will use preventive dental care to monitor your jaws, neck, and mouth for potential dental problems and to provide you with preventive measures to keep them from getting worse or from occurring in the first place.
- Dentists use preventive dental care to detect chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, eating disorders, osteoporosis, and more. Preventive dental care will help keep these medical conditions from arising or getting worse.
What Is Involved in Preventive Dental Care?
Your dentist will first check your teeth and gums and then go over any treatment you might need. This first step is done to help you get your mouth healthy and maintain your oral health over time in an effort to avoid tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral issues.
Next, your dentist will clean your teeth and remove all the tarter and plaque from them. They will then show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth to effectively remove all the bacteria (plaque) that forms on your teeth when you eat and drink. If plaque is left on your teeth, it will get thicker and turn to tartar and will, at some point, cause inflammation of the gums which will result in other, more severe dental issues.
Your dentist will tell you which dental care products are best suited to your needs. They will then talk with you about your daily habits, such as smoking, drinking, and diet. That discussion will include recommending that you don’t smoke and that you keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum. It will also include recommending you eat a healthy diet and being mindful of what you eat as far as tooth-staining beverages, and minimizing foods that are hard on your teeth.
What Is the Difference Between Preventive Dentistry and Restorative Dentistry?
Preventive dentistry is your first line of defense when it comes to preserving your oral health. It includes treatments that are designed to prevent future dental problems from occurring. And restorative dentistry is intended to restore your teeth after a negative dental event has occurred, such as needing dental fillings, etc.
Common Preventive Dental Care Products and Materials
There are several materials that are used for preventive dental care measures.
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Fluoride
- Mouthguards
- Dental sealants
- And any other products and materials your dentist might recommend.
Do You Need a Dentist in Goshen, IN?
If you need a dentist in Goshen, IN, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Judd Family Dentistry today. We provide a warm, comfortable, and welcoming environment. And we promise to treat you and your family with all the care and respect you deserve.
