Preventive Dentistry

Your teeth, gums and bones in your mouth all require regular care and attention. Regular checkups at the dentist are part of this plan, but there’s a lot you can do at home to keep your smile at its best and prevent the unexpected from happening.

Keys to Effective Dental Care at Home

• Fluoride toothpaste helps strengthen your teeth and adds another layer of protection against cavities. Not all toothpaste contains fluoride, so read labels and talk to your dentist or hygienist about special toothpaste that may help with other concerns, such as sensitivity.
• Drink water. Choosing water over sugary drinks and diet soda is good for your overall health and best for your teeth.
• Brushing and flossing regularly. Twice a day, every day.

When we are kids, we go through a lot of changes in our teeth as baby teeth give way to adult teeth and molars grow in. Orthodontia and wisdom teeth are often concerns in the teen years and for young adults. Adults who have taken care of their teeth all their lives may wonder if they need to worry about their teeth once they are past braces and have gone through wisdom teeth extraction. But good oral care is all about the long game. Regular checkups at their best are quick and unremarkable. But regular checkups over time are also an important way to stay healthy and prevent unexpected surprises.

Why Do We Need to See a Dentist Every Six Months?

Your dental team doesn’t just enjoy your company. When you keep up a routine of visits every six months (or as often as recommended for your needs), you have a better chance of taking care of small dental problems before they become bigger issues. At a checkup, you will experience:

• Gum care and plaque removal with special tools to do the job better than you can do at home.
• X-rays to find decay or issues with the roots of your teeth that can’t be seen in a mirror.
• Professional teeth cleaning, with tools that can remove stains, plaque and tartar.
• Routine screenings of your tongue and the tissue in your mouth for oral diseases or oral cancer. As with any cancer screening, early detection is ideal.

Preventive care and checkups won’t always keep you from tooth loss or gum disease, but regular visits help your dentist track emerging issues with your teeth and mouth. If you ever experience a dental emergency, those routine visits will give your dentist a baseline to refer to when developing a treatment plan. And having an established relationship with a dental team like Morey Dental means one less decision to make if you need serious dental care in a hurry.