It’s generally true that preemptive and preventive measures are far easier to implement than corrective measures once things have gone wrong. Dentistry can cost more, feel more painful, and be more complex without prevention.
Today we’re looking at the seemingly small things you can proactively do over time to prevent more painful and time-consuming dental issues. In other words, today, we’re talking about preventive dental care.
What Is Preventive Dentistry?
In short, preventive dentistry is the collection of simple measures that we can take today to prevent serious dental health issues in the future.
This includes things we can do at home like brushing twice daily, flossing daily, regularly rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash, limiting consumption of especially sugary and acidic foods and beverages, and avoiding tobacco products.
Every bit as vital are regular dental checkups, which allow your dentist to assess the health of your teeth and gums, identify minor issues and risk factors for more serious issues like gum disease, and quickly, easily, and painlessly treat them.
The Risks of Poor Preventive Dental Care
It’s almost impossible to overstate the dangers of poor preventive dental care. Neglecting your teeth, or simply taking them for granted while healthy, can have a variety of negative consequences, including:
- If left untreated, cavities can grow, erode your tooth’s enamel, and expose the delicate pulp inside to possible infection, which would require a root canal or tooth extraction to treat.
- Gum disease – similarly, poor oral hygiene can also lead to gum disease, whose effects include everything from swelling, tenderness, and irritation in the early stages to bleeding, abscesses (pockets of pus around the tooth), and even jawbone and tooth loss in cases of severe periodontitis.
- Oral cancer – Regular dental checkups allow your dentist to identify any potential signs of cancer in your mouth, gums, lips, and lymph nodes in their early stages, dramatically increasing the chances of successful treatment
Preventive Oral Care in Corona, CA
If you are in Corona and want to be sure that you’re taking every precaution to ensure your long-term oral health through the prevention of plaque, tartar, gum disease, and tooth decay, contact dentist Dr. Shital Patel and the team at Dental Care of Corona to schedule an appointment!