5 Tips for Good, Preventative Dentistry at Home

Between regular dental visits, it is essential to maintain your oral health. Preventative oral care does not only happen at your dentist’s office. In fact, the majority of your dental care will occur at home, between visits. 

Here are a few things to know about preventative dentistry at home:

Brushing and Flossing is Key. It seems basic enough, but maintaining a daily brushing and flossing routine at home is the best way to prevent further dental problems from developing. If you need help with your technique, talk to your dentist to see how you can better care for your teeth on a daily basis.

Maintaining a healthy diet is important for overall dental health. Eating nutrient-rich foods can help build strong bones and tissues while preventing dental problems from occurring down the road. It is also important avoid foods high in sugars, which can encourage tooth decay and gum disease.

Start at-home preventative care early on. Brushing and flossing should be taught to infants as soon as they develop teeth. By ingraining this daily routine into young minds, it helps set them up for a lifetime of strong and healthy teeth. This will also make their first dental visits easier and help reduce any anxiety that may develop over visiting the dentist in the future.

Ensuring that older children and teens have good brushing habits is essential. Remind them that spending 2 minutes brushing twice a day increases their dental health exponentially.

Stopping smoking can greatly improve your oral health. Not only does smoking cause teeth to turn yellow, but it can lead to gum and periodontal diseases. Gum disease causes the weakening of gums and can eventually lead to the loss of teeth in affected areas. 

Overall health and dental health are related. There are many ways in which health problems can cause and be caused by poor dental health. By maintaining a regular exercise routine, minimizing drinking and keeping any other health problems at bay; you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles.

If you need help establishing your at-home oral care routine, or have questions about preventative dentistry, call Dr. VanderMolen at (217) 546-3333 and schedule a visit. The friendly staff at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield – Your preventative dental care specialists!

What do you need to know about Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is a very common oral problem faced by almost 75% of the world’s population in varying degrees of severity. Most of the forms of periodontal disease are easily preventable with appropriate oral hygiene measures.

1. Do Not Ignore Bleeding Gums When Brushing!

The earliest sign of periodontal disease is swollen gums with bleeding while brushing. Soft food deposits that are not brushed out accumulate around the teeth and within the gums to cause irritation and swelling. Swollen gums bleed easily from the bristles of a toothbrush while brushing.

2. Periodontal Disease Can Lead to Tooth Loss

Weak and swollen gums are the initial signs of bone loss. Once the gums get weakened, the underlying bone starts to disintegrate, thereby causing loose teeth due to inadequate support. If left untreated, you may lose even a healthy tooth that doesn’t have any decay to periodontal disease.

3. Most Cases of Bad Breath are Related to Periodontal Disease

Bad breath can have serious effects on one’s self-confidence and social interactions. Periodontal disease has been reported as one of the most common causes of bad breath. Accumulation of food deposits and their further hardening causes the formation of tartar. This tartar irritates the surrounding gums and initiates the destructive stages of periodontal disease. The bacteria that causes bad breath thrives comfortably on teeth covered with tartar. A good oral hygiene regimen and periodontal treatments can reverse these issues and help eliminate many cases of bad breath.

4. Periodontal Disease May Be Related To Various Systemic Diseases

According to recent studies, periodontal disease has shown a close association with systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease, or cardiovascular disorders. While having a healthy mouth certainly no guarantee of good health the early detection and prevention of periodontal disease will definitely give your body the best chance to maintain good health.

5. Periodontal Disease Can Be Reversed and Prevented!

Periodontal disease is a serious condition, but it can be treated with appropriate curative measures like scaling and root planing. With the help of routine dental check-ups, the disease can be diagnosed and treated at its initial stages, preventing excessive damage to both gums and teeth.

Regular Preventative Dentistry check-ups, at least twice a year, can help prevent Periodontal Disease from occurring. Together with your dentist, you can determine whether your oral hygiene practices are adequate enough to keep your gums and teeth healthy, and can catch any signs of trouble before they become larger issues.

Is it time for a dental checkup for you and your family? Make an appointment by calling Dr. VanderMolen at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield today at (217) 546-3333. 

Click here for more information on the general dentistry services available at Advanced Dental Care. Let us help you get on track to a healthy smile today!