How to Save Money and Avoid Dental Problems Through Preventive Dentistry

For so long, people have thought of their oral health as being separate from their overall health. However, your pearly whites are connected to your overall health. Even though teeth are sturdy and were designed to last your entire lifetime, if they are not taken care of, you might end up losing them.

Your pocket might feel the pinch since a full mouth reconstruction may make you part with almost $80,000. Are you willing to spend that much money just to replace your teeth?

However, you can safeguard your wallet as well as your teeth by practicing preventive dentistry. If you have proper oral hygiene practices, coupled with regular preventive dental care at TLC Dental Care, then you will be on your merry way to a healthy smile.

Fundamentals of Preventive Dentistry

In a nutshell, preventive dentistry involves taking care of your teeth to keep your pearly whites healthy. This will aid in keeping all the dental issues at bay. If you are the people who wait for issues like bleeding gums or toothaches to visit a dentist, then you are cutting it too close. Every time you postpone a dental visit, you increase the risk of losing your teeth.

Do not forget the old adage that reminds us that prevention is better than cure.

At the heart of preventive dental care is maintaining excellent oral health. This means that it starts with you. Your daily habits play a big role in your oral health than you can dare to believe. This process begins in early childhood, and you continue with it throughout your entire lifetime. Simply put, you can benefit from proper oral practices at any stage in your life.

The goal of preventive dentistry is to keep gum disease, cavities, tooth sensitivity, and other identified conditions promptly rooted out, thus preventing further damage and tooth loss.

What Does Preventive Dentistry Involve?

As you already know by now, there are two facets of preventive oral care: your daily oral habits and dental visits.

Common Practices During Dental Visits

You can expect a variety of preventive measures to ensure that you maintain proper oral health. And these are:

• A mouth examination where our dentist will look at your gums and teeth for possible signs of gum disease, dental cavities, and oral cancer, among other conditions. Our dentist will also check to see if you have problems with your bite and how your TMJ is functioning.
• A digital X-ray can be used so that our dentist can have a clearer picture of your mouth.
• Cleaning of your teeth may follow. This might involve scaling and planning that will remove tartar and plaque. Apart from removing plaque and tartar, fluoride treatment can be used to strengthen your teeth.
• Our dentist might use preventive resin restoration or sealant (a thin, resin coating that is applied to molars and premolars) to protect them from tooth decay.
• You will also be advised on the right products to use at home when you are brushing and flossing.
• Other than that, you will also be shown the proper way of flossing and brushing.
• If you have fillings, our dentist will check to see if they are in tip-top shape.

Healthy Dental Practices

As you already know, it stars with you. So here are some pointers:

• • Brush Your Teeth Daily

This is the core of preventive oral care. It would be best if you brushed your teeth at least twice each day. If possible, brush after every meal. Also, use fluoride toothpaste to help strengthen your teeth.

Also, brush your tongue to remove bacteria and food particles. Also, replace your toothbrush after every three to four months.

• • Floss Everyday

Flossing helps remove the food that gets stuck between your teeth. Regardless of how well you brush your teeth, you might be unable to remove the food particles.

• • Eat a Balanced Diet

This is where it all begins. Eating a balanced diet can help provide your teeth with the necessary nutrients. Other than that, eating the right stuff will help keep cavities at bay. This means that you limit your sugar intake and drink lots of water.

What Are the Benefits?

Preventive oral health has a ton of benefits, including:

• Prevents cavities
• Prevents gum disease
• Eliminates bad breath
• Avoids severe health issues
• Saves money
• Saves time
• Get less invasive treatment

As you can see, preventive oral care can go a long way in keeping you healthy. If you need preventive dental care in Knoxville, TN, contact our dentist today to schedule an appointment.