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Provo Family Dentist Discusses Achieving Oral Health through Prevention

Dental infections and disease can not only affect the appearance of your smile but, left untreated, can destroy your oral health. When you neglect routine at-home and professional dental care, you put yourself at great risk of losing teeth as well as jawbone density. This can lead to painful complications, requiring extensive cosmetic procedures to restore the appearance of your smile.
 
Prevention is the key to maintaining a beautiful healthy smile. If you practice diligent dental care you can save yourself the cost and embarrassment of dental disease. In our Provo family dentistry office we strive to educate patients on the most effective ways to prevent cavities and gum disease. You may not realize that even the most conscientious brushing and flossing alone cannot maintain your smile. Routine at-home oral hygiene is necessary, but it must be paired with professional dental cleanings.
 
Many of our patients know that it’s imperative to good oral health to follow rigorous oral hygiene routines such as brushing and flossing, and avoiding damaging food and drinks. But they may not consider that they need to supplement at-home care with professional cleanings for optimal results.
 
Plaque is a sticky bacterial film that coats enamel and oral tissue as we eat, drink, and speak. Flossing and brushing are useful at removing plaque build-up but cannot eliminate it completely. Remaining plaque hardens into a substance called tartar. Without professional cleanings, tartar continues to build up on teeth, causing dental decay, gum disease, and eventually tooth loss.
 
The best way to ensure your dental health is to maintain a proactive at-home cleaning schedule (to reduce daily plaque build-up) and see your dentist for semi-annual professional cleanings (to remove tartar and give you a “clean slate” for brushing and flossing). By scheduling routine visits to your dental professional you give yourself and your family the best possible chance for optimal oral health.