Preventative Dentistry
Preventative dentistry is the foundation of modern dental care. It is a simple but effective regime that is cost effective and easy for you to do every day. It is made up of two steps.
Step 1: You need to brush your teeth twice daily and floss every day.
Follow these tips to clean your teeth the most effectively. Firstly, use a small headed toothbrush with soft, nylon, round-ended bristles. When brushing, it’s best for the bristles to swipe both the tooth surface and the gumline.
To begin brushing, clean the outer tooth surfaces with a back and forth motion for several seconds per 2/3 teeth. Repeat on the inner tooth surfaces. Then clean behind the front top and bottom teeth by flicking the brush forward to push out any residue.
Finally clean the biting surface using a back and forth motion for several seconds per 2/3 teeth. Regularly brush your tongue from back to front to remove bacteria. Use a fluoride toothpaste and replace your brush every three months.
Step 2: Schedule regular dental check-ups
Secondly, you need to book a dental checkup and clean every six to twelve months. We will advise you on which frequency is best for you and depends on your dental history and daily dental habits. Dental x-rays every two years is also necessary as recommended by the Australian Dental Association.
We’d love to demonstrate the toothbrushing method to you at your next appointment, so just ask!
That’s all there is to it. This regime has been shown to significantly help prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
Avoiding larger problems
The main symptom of gum disease is constant bad breath. This is caused by the buildup of bacteria in the mouth, made worse by poor oral habits and tooth decay. Other symptoms can be bleeding gums and inflamed gums. If gum disease and subsequent decay are detected however, they can be treated early to minimise them becoming bigger, more costly problems.
Attend to small fillings recommended by us urgently to address tooth decay. Small fillings that are ignored turn into big fillings. If further ignored then over time pain increases, and root canal therapy and crowns are needed. Extraction is the last resort which means missing teeth and the need for dental implants.
If you follow the two steps of preventative dentistry you will minimise the risk of following this downward cycle.