Maintain Your Oral Health with Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dentistry refers to the practice of taking care your teeth and keeping them healthy. It helps to prevent cavities, enamel wear, gum disease, and more. Preventive dentistry may include flossing, use of the right toothbrush and toothpaste, brushing your tongue and visiting the dentist regularly.

Do I really have to floss every day?

Undoubtedly, daily brushing is the most important part of preventive dentistry. However, your toothbrush cannot access certain areas of your teeth. Flossing helps to clean the stubborn spots in between your teeth that the brush cannot reach and you will experience a cleaner and healthier smile. There are different types of floss: plastic, nylon or dental ribbon.

You should always take time and floss correctly. You may floss many times in a day, but if you do it quickly the bacteria and debris may not be completely removed. This makes flossing ineffective. Therefore, it is better to floss thoroughly and regularly once every day to enjoy all the health benefits.

Does it matter what kind of toothbrush I use?

Most dental professionals recommend that you use a toothbrush with soft bristles in order to remove debris and plaque from your teeth. A brush with harder bristles can damage the enamel of your teeth. Dentists are also of the opinion that a brush with a small head is better because it can reach all areas of your mouth, especially the back of your teeth.

As far as the type of handle (flexible neck or non-slip grip), shape of head (rectangular or tapered) and bristle style (trimmed, rippled or flat) are concerned, you can use one that is best suited to you. A powered toothbrush is helpful if you find it difficult to brush your teeth or have limited manual dexterity. It is a good idea to replace your toothbrush as soon as it begins to wear or once in three months depending on whichever comes first.

Aren’t all toothpastes the same?

No toothpaste can save your smile if you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly. The first thing that you must check when choosing the toothpaste is whether it has been approved by the American Dental Association or not. If the toothpaste is ADA approved, it means that it has been tested, the ingredients are effective and its claims are legitimate. However, factors such as pastes or gels and spearmint or cinnamon flavors do not have anything to do with effectiveness of the toothpaste. All-in-one toothpastes contain a mix of agents that help to reduce formation of tartar, prevent dental caries and improve gum health.

Ninety-five percent of the toothpastes sold are fluoride toothpastes. It is a recognized fact that fluoride toothpastes prevent dental caries. ADA approved all-natural, herbal toothpastes are as effective as anti-microbial pastes.

Is it necessary to brush my tongue?

Most people brush their teeth and floss regularly, but find it difficult to stop bad breath. On the surface of your tongue, there are tiny ridges and bumps which create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow and produce smelly volatile sulfur compounds. Getting rid of these bacteria helps to improve your breath. Studies show that tongue scraping is a little more effective than brushing. 

How often do I really need to visit my dentist?

Dentists have been recommending for decades that adults visit their dentists twice a year. Regular visits help your dentist to diagnose problems that may not be evident to you. This is because many of the dental problems do not cause pain till they are in an advanced stage. The high-risk group of people who need to make more visits include smokers, diabetics and those who have gum disease, weak immune response, cavities and plaque buildup.

If you live in Washington, DC, you can visit a holistic dentist to answer all of your oral health questions. Contact the DC Dentist, Dr. Terry Victor, to discuss your oral health needs. Make an appointment today.

Terry Victor, DDS – Washington DC Dentist
509 11th St SE Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-3626
http://www.thedcdentist.com/
https://plus.google.com/116338970420867784677/