Practicing preventive dentistry can keep you from developing oral health problems like cavities, gum disease, enamel wear and more. Preventative dental care can also reduce your risk for serious medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke.
A regular routine of brushing and flossing at home is essential to maintaining good oral health. You can even get sealants to protect your teeth against decay.
Regular Checkups
Regular checkups and professional cleanings are the cornerstone of dental preventative care. They allow us to evaluate your oral health, remove plaque and tartar buildup, and detect potential issues such as gum disease or tooth decay.
Getting cavities treated as soon as they occur helps reduce the likelihood that they will become severe problems and require more expensive treatments like root canals or dental implants.
Your dentist may also recommend sealants, a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth, where cavities often start.
X-rays are another important part of your checkup. They help your Orlando dentist diagnose hidden health problems, such as tumors or cysts that might not be apparent on the surface of your teeth.
Flossing
Flossing is one of the most effective ways to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. It removes plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that can form on your teeth and gums, leading to decay and disease.
Using floss daily is an essential part of dental prevention. It also improves your overall oral health.
The American Dental Association recommends flossing to complement brushing twice a day. It helps to remove food debris that can stick between your teeth, which can lead to bad breath and other dental problems.
To floss, wind about 18 inches of floss around your middle finger and hold it tightly between your thumbs and index fingers. Slide the floss between your teeth with a “C” motion, moving it up and down several times to scrape away plaque and food particles.
Brushing
Brushing is one of the most effective preventative measures for teeth and oral health. It removes the bacteria, plaque and food particles that cause cavities and bad breath.
Dental floss is another tool to use to help keep your teeth clean and healthy. You can also use interdental brushes, which look like a bottle brush that is attached to a thin wire.
Flossing helps to remove the hard-to-reach food and plaque that can be stuck between your teeth. You should floss at least once a day, and your dentist or hygienist may recommend supplemental products that can be used in addition to floss.
Preventative dentistry is a team effort that includes you, your dentist and your hygienist. By keeping a routine of appointments and oral care at home, you can help to ensure that you avoid dental problems.
Routine Dental Cleanings
Getting a dental cleaning in Orlando twice a year is part of your best defense against tooth decay and gum disease. These gentle professional cleanings remove plaque and tartar that build up on your teeth and below the gum line.
These deposits trap food and bacteria that cause cavities. During your routine cleaning, the dentist or hygienist will use special tools to get rid of this build-up.
The dentist or hygienist will also polish your teeth for a whiter smile.
A popular elective procedure, tooth whitening removes surface stains such as coffee, tobacco, soft drinks and aging. The teeth appear several shades whiter after this treatment.
The dentist or hygienist can also apply a fluoride varnish or dental sealant to the chewing surfaces of your teeth to help prevent cavities in these areas. This is a great way to reduce your risk of cavities without having to replace your daily brushing and flossing habits.
Dental Implants
The same care you use to protect your natural teeth can also help your dental implants last a long time. Proper oral hygiene and regular visits to our Orlando dental office will keep your implants free from bacteria, plaque, and tartar.
If you’re missing one or more teeth, our dentist can replace them with dental implants that are sturdy and look and feel completely natural. Implants are anchored to your jawbone, and can be used to support a single replacement tooth, a row of replacement teeth, or an entire arch of artificial teeth, including bridges and dentures.
The surgical procedure involves placing a tiny titanium post into your jaw bone and then leaving it to heal for several months while the biocompatible implant integrates with your tissue. Once the implant has healed, we attach a restoration that restores function and appearance.