It doesn’t take an advanced degree to become knowledgeable in preventive dentistry. While this might sound like a complicated subject, you’re most likely already partaking in this practice unknowingly. Despite having a complicated-sounding name, preventive dentistry simply describes normal practices of oral hygiene conducted to ensure the health of your teeth in order to avoid more invasive and expensive dental needs. Let’s explore some fundamentals of preventive dentistry to ensure you’re on the right track.

1. Brushing twice per day.

Brushing your teeth is the cornerstone of keeping your teeth healthy and good oral hygiene overall. In fact, humans have had the toothbrush for thousands of years already. Currently, the American Dental Association recommends that people brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. This might not seem like a lot, but a consistent amount of brushing can make a big difference. Brushing your teeth can help remove plaque from your mouth which, if left alone, could lead to gum disease. Be sure to buy good toothpaste and to replace your brush regularly.

2. Flossing once per day.

Everyone’s experienced the feeling of guilt and shame upon explaining to their dentist why they continue to forgo the recommendation of flossing once per day. While that might be a bit of an overstatement, it seems like a society-wide shortcoming. Dentists typically recommend that patients floss once a day in order to get any remnants of food out from in between their teeth. While some people like to knock it out in the morning, others prefer to floss at night in order to go to sleep with a fresh-feeling.

3. Regular checkups.

It might sound ironic, but regular checkups with your dentist fall into the category of preventive dentistry. All dentists worth their salt are going to try their best to keep their patients from requiring any invasive or expensive dental intervention. Yearly checkups and regular cleanings help to ensure that patients’ oral health is on the right track. Think of these checkups like a professional audit of your teeth cleaning efforts. If everything checks out, you’ll be on your way. If not, the dentist will recommend some preventive measures or, if necessary, other dental procedures.

If you need a local Mesa, AZ dentist to help you prevent cavities and oral health issues contact our dental practice today.