When you adopt a preventive attitude toward your oral care, you can maintain a robust smile that lasts a lifetime. By stopping issues with tooth decay and gum disease before they start, you save time, effort, and headaches when seeking restorative dental care. This approach requires the combination of a daily commitment to at-home care as well as regular visits to your dentist. The actions you take each day to remove plaque from the surface of your teeth stop cavities in their tracks. And when you visit our office twice per year, we examine the results of your efforts and can detect problems that you may not be able to see on your own.
At your Prairie Village, KS, dental practice, we want you to know that it is never too late to get back into the habit of consistent checkups. Instead of waiting for painful toothaches or other symptoms to appear, we invite you to schedule a cleaning to complement your at-home brushing and flossing. By examining your smile regularly, we can detect cavities when they are small and provide a simple repair.
The Danger Of Oral Bacteria
Oral bacteria present the primary threat against your smile. Ever present in your mouth, these microorganisms feed off of remnants of your meals to form dental plaque that sticks to the surface of your teeth. But by brushing and flossing each morning, you remove this film before it can cause any real harm. On the other hand, neglecting to brush allows the bacteria to continue feeding, producing an acidic waste product that wears away your protective enamel. Eventually, this creates permanent holes, or cavities, that destroy your healthy structure. These same deposits can even get into your gum tissue and wreak havoc, leaving behind chronic bad breath, inflammation, and bleeding.
Brushing Your Teeth Each Day
By selecting a toothbrush that is soft enough to protect your gums, you should not worry about causing any harm. We suggest shopping for toothpaste that contains fluoride to provide additional protection against cavities. Remember to brush at least twice per day or after every meal. By taking at least two minutes per session, you can help ensure that each tooth receives enough attention.
Flossing helps you reach areas between teeth that your toothbrush’s bristles cannot. By flossing to the gum line, you protect against gum disease by removing bacterial pockets that collect nearby.
Speak With Your Prairie Village, KS, Dentist About Scheduling A Dental Checkup!
If it has been a while since you last visited the dentist, remember that it is never too late! We can help clean your pearly whites and treat any existing damage! To learn more or to schedule a visit, please contact your Prairie Village, KS dentist’s office at (913) 901-8585.
