Taking care of your teeth before they get sick is really the best thing you can do. If you take care of your teeth and gums, you may not have to deal with pain, expensive treatments, or issues in the future. We put preventive dentistry at the center of our practice at New Image Dental. Our goal is to give our patients the information and tools they need to keep their smiles for life.
What Is Preventive Dentistry?
Preventive dentistry encompasses a range of strategies and practices aimed at averting dental issues before they arise. It involves regular dental visits, proper oral hygiene habits, a balanced diet, and protective measures to safeguard the teeth and gums against decay, infection, and other problems.
Regular Dental Checkups
One of the cornerstones of preventive dentistry is scheduling routine dental checkups. These appointments allow our team at New Image Dental to assess your oral health, identify any emerging issues, and address them promptly. During a checkup, we look at your teeth, gums, and lips very carefully to see if there are any signs of cavities, gum disease, mouth cancer, or other issues. We might also use X-rays to find problems that are below the skin.
Professional Cleanings
To keep your teeth healthy, cleanings by a professional are just as important as exams. Even if you brush and floss every day, plaque and tartar can still form on your teeth over time. This can make your teeth and gums get sick. When our skilled dental hygienists clean your teeth at New Image Dental, they use special tools to get rid of plaque and tartar. This cleans and shines your teeth. It’s good for your mouth to get cleaned every six months because it keeps cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease at bay.
Maintaining Oral Hygiene At Home
Preventive dentistry is based on good mouth hygiene habits that you can do at home. When you use fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth at least twice a day, you get rid of plaque and food bits. This lowers your risk of cavities and gum disease. Also, you should floss every day to clean between your teeth and along the gum line, which the brushes of your toothbrush might miss. Dentist in Inglewood, CA at New Image Dental can give you personalized advice on how to properly brush and floss your teeth.
Healthy Dietary Choices
The food you eat can have a big effect on the health of your teeth. Tooth loss and erosion are more likely to happen if you eat a lot of sugary and acidic foods. On the other hand, eating healthy foods makes your teeth and gums stronger. At New Image Dental, we tell our customers to eat and drink less sugary snacks and drinks and more fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and dairy products. As you go through the day, drinking a lot of water helps wash away food particles and germs, keeping your mouth healthy.
Protective Measures
Besides eating well and brushing and cleaning your teeth, there are other things you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you wear a mouthguard when you play sports or grind your teeth at night, you can keep your teeth from getting hit or worn down. Sealants for teeth are very thin plastic coverings that are put on the cutting surfaces of the back teeth. They protect against cavities even more, which is especially important for kids and teens.
Education And Empowerment
At New Image Dental, we think that the best way to improve oral health and keep problems from happening is to teach people about them. That’s why we take the time to teach our patients about the benefits of preventive dentistry and give them personalized tips on how to keep their teeth clean and healthy. By giving our patients the information and tools they need to take care of themselves, we give them the power to take charge of their oral health and have healthy smiles for life.
