We’ve all heard the saying: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. The same can be said for your dental health.
As a child, you may have constantly been reminded to brush your teeth every morning and night, as well as floss, so that you would have healthy white teeth when you grew up. You may also have been taken to the dentist twice a year and never missed a routine cleaning and exam appointment. As adults, however, we can get complacent with our dental care because we don’t have any problems. We might think it’s ok to miss a night here or there of brushing and no big deal if we skip a dental visit because we are too busy. This is a bad habit to fall into, however. Taking care of your teeth is just as important as it was when you were a child. Consistent care can reduce many of the tooth, gum and mouth diseases that not only wreak havoc on your mouth, but can affect your overall health, as well.
What can you do to decrease your risk of everything from cavities to gum disease and even oral cancer? Here are some tips:
Stop Tooth Decay In Its Tracks
Cavities aren’t just for kids. While they are common among children, aging can make it a problem in adults, as well. The best way to prevent tooth decay is brushing twice a day, and the toothpaste does not have to be fluoride based. Proper brushing will help keep food particles and bacteria buildup, otherwise known as plaque, from making a home on your teeth. Flossing once a day is also critical to preventing tooth decay. It helps clean in between your teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing also prevents plaque buildup which, when left untreated, turns into tartar — a hard substance that only professional dental cleaning can remove.
Regular Dental Visits
Professional cleanings and exams are important to your dental preventative care for multiple reasons. Not only are we able to clean your teeth of any plaque or tartar buildup, we take x-rays and examine your teeth, mouth, and gums for signs of decay and infection. If we are able to catch cavities or gum disease before they progress, the damage will be less and treatments more effective. We also screen for oral cancer at these visits. Oral cancer is particularly deadly because it is often diagnosed when it is in advanced stages.
At Caring Dental of Spotswood, we help patients in Spotswood, NJ and the surrounding area take better care of their dental health using the latest dentistry techniques. Please call our office to schedule an appointment and see how we can help with your dental needs.
