What Is Preventive Dental Care & Why Do I Need It?

Preventive dentistry is the process of taking care of your teeth and mouth. This involves many different types of care, such as visiting the dentist regularly, practicing good oral hygiene habits like brushing and flossing, and making sure to get regular dental checkups. It’s not enough to maintain a bright, brilliant smile, you also need to make sure that it stays healthy!

Common Preventive Dentistry Services

The goal of preventive dentistry is to reduce the risk of developing dental problems in the future. Though there are many ways people can go about achieving these goals it often starts with brushing teeth twice daily and visiting a San Francisco dentist regularly.

Brushing Your Teeth

Brushing your teeth helps keep your mouth clean preventing the build-up of bacteria that cause cavities, gingivitis, and other problems. The physical action of brushing your teeth scrubs away soft plaque buildup on the teeth and gums, but doesn't get rid of harder tartar that a dentist removes during a routine cleaning.

Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is a compound that fights against tooth decay by strengthening your enamel against the acids that attack it. It can be found in most water supplies nationwide. However, your dentist may provide a concentrated fluoride mouthwash during a checkup to best protect the teeth.

Oral Examination

An oral examination is a thorough look at your mouth and teeth. This allows your dentist to not only check for any problems but also track past progress or changes since previous visits. Your dentist will examine both the healthy and unhealthy areas in the mouth for signs of diseases or decay.

Who Offers Preventive Dental Care?

Many dentists offer preventive dental care. They are known as general dentists. A dentist like Dr. Kandar advises his patients of the benefits of healthy dental habits, such as regular brushing and flossing, while providing specialty services and restorative procedures when needed to keep the mouth healthy and beautiful.

Benefits of Preventive Dental Care

With the right dental care, your teeth and gums can last a lifetime. But without it, you are in for some serious problems. Here are some benefits of preventive dental care:

Improves Oral Health

Dentists identify potential problems early on so that can address them quickly and effectively, which saves time and money down the road, as well as gives you the best chance of keeping all your natural teeth.

Ensures Consistent Care

Preventive dental visits also allow doctors to make sure patients are following their oral health plan. For example, if you’re not properly brushing and flossing, your dentist will advise you on how to improve your daily routine.

Forming a Healthy Habit

Visiting a dentist regularly helps patients form a lasting dental-health-related habit, which is especially important for young kids or teenagers who may not always take the best care of their teeth.

Take Action Today

The benefits of preventative dentistry are endless, from better oral health to fewer visits in the future. If you’re not sure if preventive dentistry is right for you, contact us today at (415) 523-9178 or by filling out our online form. Our team of experts at UNO DENTAL in San Francisco, California will answer all your questions, and provide you with an actionable plan that will suit all of your needs. Don't let this opportunity slip by - get yourself on track with preventive dentistry so you'll never have to worry about cavities again!

Contact Us