Preventative dental care is the key to maintaining good oral health and preventing dental issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and cavities. While daily brushing and flossing at home can keep your teeth and gums healthy, extra professional help is also needed.
Regular dental cleanings at your local dentist can help detect early signs of any dental issues and break down any bad bacteria or plaque buildup you may have missed.
Putney Dental is All About Preventative Dental Care
Quality dental care is what Putney Dental Care is all about, which is why we offer professional dental cleaning that is guaranteed to renew your smile and spot any oral health issues early on. Our team believes in the importance of preventative dental care, which is why we help our patients stay on top of their dental health and learn to practise good oral hygiene.
Putney Dental Care is the answer if you have been looking for a dentist working hard to improve your dental and oral health. We provide services to several Sydney areas, including Ryde, Gladesville, Meadowbank, and Tennyson Point, and an appointment is just a call away at (02) 9808 2588. Otherwise, you can book online to get started immediately.
What is Preventative Care?
The best way to treat tooth decay, gum disease, and any other possible dental problems is by preventing them from ever happening. Generally, healthy teeth and gums are achievable if you regularly practise good oral hygiene, but your likelihood of developing any dental issues is further reduced through professional cleaning services.
While daily brushing and flossing, morning and night, is something anyone can do at home, professional preventative dentistry offers deep cleaning and diagnostic tests that can pick up on any budding issues. That way, a treatment plan can be constructed to nip the issue in the bud before it develops enough to start damaging your teeth and gums.
Putney Dental Care offers a range of preventative dental treatments, including:
- Professional teeth and gum cleaning
- X-rays of your teeth and jaw
- Denture care
- Advice on how to maintain good oral hygiene
- Diagnostic tests to ensure problems are detected early
- Oral cancer screening
Our dental team is also happy to answer any pressing questions about your dental health during a preventative dental care appointment. If you have questions about your sudden tooth sensitivity, or why you have plaque buildup along your gum line, we are ready with an answer and possible treatment plan.
What is Plaque?
Plaque is the buildup of bad bacteria that creates a sticky film around the teeth and gum line. Plaque must be removed with regular preventative care to keep teeth healthy and prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and overall poor oral health.
The main reason why plaque is so dangerous for our teeth is the fact that plaque bacteria utilise the sugars in foods to produce acids. These acids sit on top of your teeth and gums, eating away at the teeth’s protective layer and causing enamel loss. This loss eventually results in cavities or dental decay, which can lead to tooth loss without proper treatment.
Beyond eating away at your enamel, plaque can also harden to form tartar buildup along the gums. This irritates the soft tissue of your gums, leading to gingivitis, which can eventually become periodontitis, also known as gum disease. Oral diseases can cause your gums to recede and the bones supporting your teeth to break down, creating oral health issues that are difficult to reverse the damage on.
Regular preventative care is the best method for preventing the buildup of dental plaque, tartar, and bad bacteria. With professional dental treatment from your local dentist, you can prevent gum disease and other oral health issues from damaging your teeth and gums.
Who is Preventative Dentistry For?
Everyone needs preventative dental care, no matter their age. Addressing dental problems early on can prevent serious issues from developing, so it is best to begin preventative care from childhood. This includes monitoring the development of their teeth and jaw if cosmetic dental care is also required.
Regular cleaning and check-ups are still required into adulthood to remove dental plaque and detect early signs of oral diseases. Those who are immunocompromised, including senior citizens, especially require these regular check-ups to prevent their dental problems from affecting their overall health.
Benefits of Preventative Care
Without preventative care, not only will the health of your teeth and gums be compromised, but your overall well-being may also be greatly affected. By brushing your teeth daily and seeing the dentist for a professional clean every 6 months, you can prevent the development of oral health issues and keep your smile shiny and clean.
Routinely cleaning your teeth with professional help also has additional benefits such as:
- Improving your overall health in the long term, thus expanding your lifespan
- Helping you to save money, time, and pain by treating dental issues before they can fully manifest
- Preventing gum disease, which can lead to diabetes, heart problems, strokes, and loss of teeth and bones
- Improving your oral health to reduce the risk of developing respiratory or cardiovascular disease, oral cancer, or osteoporosis
Although preventative dentistry is not guaranteed to prevent every dental issue and eliminate the need for braces, dental implants, fillings, or root canal treatment, it can still greatly reduce risks to your health.
Preventative Dentistry Treatments
Generally, most preventative dental appointments will follow a similar treatment plan to clean your teeth and monitor their development:
- Assessment: Your dentist will assess the overall health of your teeth, gums, and mouth to determine if any future treatments are required.
- Clean: Using professional tools such as a scale and polish, your dentist will remove plaque, stains, and tartar that have built up on your teeth and along your gums.
- X-ray: To get a full picture of your teeth and jawbone health, an x-ray will be conducted. This helps detect any issues that were hidden between your teeth and in your jaw structure.
- Fluoride: The final step involves applying fluoride to your teeth to strengthen the enamel and prevent cavities or tooth decay.
In the case that any issues were identified during your appointment, a plan for further treatment will be outlined by your dentist. They will also provide steps you can take yourself to prevent further damage from occurring to your otherwise healthy teeth.
At-Home Dental Treatments
During your appointment, your dentist will also recommend dental treatments you can do at home. Following such instructions can maintain the cleanliness of your teeth post-appointment while also reducing your chances of developing any problems between appointments.
The professionals at Putney Dental Care suggest that all of our patients:
- Brush your teeth twice daily (morning and night) with fluoride toothpaste to help eliminate bacteria and dental plaque. It is the simplest way to look after your teeth and gums.
- Use a soft toothbrush that reaches all parts of your mouth, including the gum line. Remember to replace your toothbrushes at least every 3-4 months.
- Floss daily to remove the bacteria in between your teeth. This is where your toothbrush can not reach. Flossing bows or interdental brushes are an alternative if regular dental floss is challenging.
- Limit your frequency of exposure to sugar and sweet snacks, especially between meals.
- Drink plenty of water, especially after eating. Water helps wash away any sugary residue left on teeth.
- Apply a remineralising paste containing calcium, phosphate and fluoride every night. This can be used as an additional preventive measure to ‘harden’ your enamel and make it more decay-resistant.
Book Your Next Preventative Dentistry Appointment with Putney Dental Care
Contact Putney Dental Care now to begin your journey to better oral health. Our team has years of experience in providing preventative care to a whole host of clients, using only the best dental tools and techniques. Whether you are looking for your regular 6-month check-up, or it is the first time in a while you have gone to get your teeth assessed, we are happy to provide you with a professional clean you will not forget.
Pick up the phone and call (02) 98082588 to arrange an appointment today, or head over to our website to book online.
FAQs
Does Smoking or Drinking Damage My Teeth?
Smoking and drinking alcohol in excessive amounts can damage your teeth in their ways, especially if they are habits you have held for some time.
Those who smoke are at a higher risk of developing gum disease, oral cancer, tooth loss, and decay. Meanwhile, drinking alcohol excessively increases the amount of acid in your mouth, resulting in worn enamel, tooth decay, and cavities.
What Are the Best Dental Hygiene Products For My Teeth?
To keep your mouth healthy, use a toothbrush, floss, and an antibacterial mouthwash daily. Sensitive teeth may prefer a soft-bristled manual toothbrush, but it is generally advised to use an electric toothbrush to get all of the hard-to-reach spots.
The best dental hygiene products to use are those recommended by your dentist and suit your teeth and their cleaning needs.
What is the Difference Between Preventative and Restorative Dentistry?
Preventative dentistry focuses on routinely cleaning the teeth and monitoring any potential dental health issues. In contrast, restorative dentistry treats a diagnosed problem and ‘restores’ your teeth to their natural look, feel, and capabilities.