Preventive Dentistry in San Carlos, CA
PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY
Preventive dentistry is essential in keeping your teeth and gums healthy throughout your life. Good oral health also has positive effects on your overall health, which is another reason that preventive dentistry is so important in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you are in need of a dentist near you or are seeking more information on preventive dentistry, consider reaching out to Laurel Street Smiles.
What is Preventive Dentistry?
Preventive dentistry is dental care that helps maintain good oral health to avoid adverse health outcomes. Preventative dentistry includes daily brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups. These good habits should ideally begin in early childhood and continue throughout your adult life. With preventive dentistry, you may successfully avoid developing cavities, gum disease, or other unwanted conditions.
What is Your Role in Preventive Dentistry?
While regularly going to the dentist is a key part of maintaining good oral hygiene, there are many things you can do daily to take preventive dental care into your own hands. For example, you should brush your teeth twice a day, floss between your teeth daily, use mouthwash to rinse after flossing or eating, and avoid smoking or using tobacco products, which can lead to cancer or other dental problems over time. Depending on your lifestyle or any pre-existing conditions, your dentist can recommend specific products and actions to maintain good oral health. This may include wearing a mouth guard if you play sports or grind your teeth, as well as avoiding certain acidic foods or beverages that may damage your tooth enamel.
Our Preventive Dentistry Procedures
Click on any of our procedures to learn more about them.
Professional Teeth Cleanings
Even if you brush and floss your teeth daily, it is important that you have your teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Professional teeth cleanings are good for keeping your smile looking good, but they're also done to keep your mouth and teeth healthy.
Over time teeth tend to build up a layer of plaque and hard deposits that must be removed with special tools. When these deposits are left unchecked on the tooth surfaces or below the gum line, they provide ideal conditions for bacteria to grow and may cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Performed alongside a routine dental examination, a professional cleaning can go a long way toward preventing many dental problems.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Cancer is a scary word, but the more you know about it, the better able you will be to protect yourself and the ones you love.
The majority of lumps, bumps, and sores you may occasionally discover in and around your mouth are entirely harmless. However, you should be on the lookout for any that last longer than a couple of weeks, such as white or red spots, ulcers, and lumps anywhere on or near your face and neck.
One of the most crucial services offered to you at the dental office is routine oral cancer screenings. During your routine dental visit, your mouth and throat are visually and tactilely examined for any indications of oral cancer or precancerous tumors.
Dental Sealants
Invisible plastic resin coverings called dental sealants smooth down the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, making them more resistant to decay. A sealed tooth is significantly less likely to get a cavity, need later, more expensive dental work, or, most importantly, hurt your child.
Sealed teeth require the same careful dental hygiene as natural teeth. Kids should keep up with daily tooth brushing, flossing, and routine professional cleanings. Even though the sealants should last up to 10 years, it's crucial to check them regularly for wear and tear.