Blog

Preventive dental care is the practice of caring for one’s teeth to keep them in great condition and avoid the need for restorative care. Taking care of your teeth at home on a daily basis is essential in preventing dental problems. However, professional dental cleanings and exams are also important for ensuring that all dental problems are caught in their earliest stages and treated before they progress.

Importance of Preventive Dental Care to your Oral Health

Preventive dental care refers to any procedure or action that is taken to prevent dental issues. This includes routine cleanings, X-rays, and examinations. Here is why preventive dental care is important: 

• Prevent damage

Regularly visiting the dentist can help prevent damage to your teeth and gums. Because you catch decay and gum disease early, you can develop a treatment plan that decreases or eliminates the potential damage. In some cases, the results of poor dental care are irreversible, such as tooth loss and gum disease.

• Prevent tooth loss

Preventive dental care helps keep your teeth healthy and safe. Tooth loss is a serious problem, and it can be avoided with proper care. Daily brushing and flossing help scrape away plaque, which is a sticky film on your teeth that is full of bacteria. If you don’t remove plaque from your teeth, it will eventually harden into tartar. This makes it more difficult to remove with daily brushing and flossing, and it can also lead to gum disease. When your gums become inflamed from plaque and tartar buildup, they are vulnerable to infection. Eventually, the infection can reach the jawbone and cause teeth to fall out. Early intervention, such as professional dental cleanings and exams, helps prevent this culprit from damaging your teeth.

• Prevents cavities

While regular brushing and flossing at home are essential to maintaining a healthy smile, they may not be enough to prevent cavities. Your dentist will clean your teeth from plaque and tartar buildup, reducing your risk of developing cavities.

By visiting your dentist regularly, you can help prevent tooth decay and avoid the need for a filling. Preventative care can help your teeth and gums remain healthy, giving you a smile that shines brightly for years to come.

• Improves overall health

Preventive dental care focuses on preventing cavities, gum disease, and enamel wear. In addition to keeping your teeth clean and healthy, preventive dental care can also reduce the risk for other health problems like diabetes, stroke, and premature births closely linked with gum disease.

• Results in better breath

Your mouth is the gateway to your overall health. Bacteria and plaque buildup can hide in your teeth and irritate your gums. This can lead to chronic bad breath. However, with regular dental cleanings and checkups, you can keep your breath fresh. Your dentist can also remove plaque buildup and properly clean your teeth. This can reduce the likelihood of chronic bad breath.

• Improves teeth appearance

Preventive dental care helps you avoid dental stains and tooth discoloration and gives you bright, good-looking teeth. 

• Helps avoid more expensive procedures

Preventive dental care helps patients avoid costly dental procedures down the road by preventing the occurrence of any dental issues. 

Our team at Peak City Family Dentistry can offer you the best dental care in Apex, North Carolina. To schedule an appointment, call (919) 362-8797 or visit us at 200 W. Chatham St., Apex, NC 27502.