Regular preventive dental care is one of the most important gifts you can give yourself. More than just a bright smile, it is during your routine exams and cleanings that your dentist is best able to spot small problems before they become big problems, and much more costly to treat. Additionally, poor dental health has been linked to a number of serious and chronic health conditions, and has even been shown to increase the risk of having a low birthweight baby.
With regular and proper dental care, your teeth will last you a lifetime. You'll want to protect this valuable asset with regular home care that includes proper brushing techniques (Ask us - we'll be happy to show you!), using a toothpaste containing fluoride, and daily flossing. (Again, ask us and we'll be glad to show you how.) Your diet has much to do with the health of your teeth, with sticky sugary foods being the major culprit in tooth decay. A balanced diet, low in refined sugars, also helps to keep your bones and gums healthy and keep your teeth strong and well-anchored in place. At your regular routine exams, we'll be checking not only your teeth, but all of the dental tissues in order to assess your overall well-being. Dental sealants are another way you can protect your teeth or those of your child from tooth decay. We'll be happy to talk to you about how this effective tool works.
And finally, water fluoridation has been listed as one of the ten greatest public health achievements of the twentieth century because of its ability to substantially reduce dental decay. Fluoride has been shown not only to protect your teeth from cavities, but also to help rebuild tooth enamel that has started to degrade. The benefits of fluoride are clear and there are a number of ways that you can include it in your preventive dental care, ranging from topical fluoride treatments to rinses, to fluoridated water or supplements. While many of us live in communities that have fluoridated water supplies, many of us do not. If the drinking water in your community does not meet the recommended level of fluoride, please discuss this with us as we explore your options.
Together, we can help assure you of a bright and healthy smile for a lifetime.