Preventive Dentistry

Preventive Dentistry or Dental Prophylaxis

Preventive Dentistry or Dental Prophylaxis is one of the greatest investments in your dental and overall health. The main goal of dental prophylaxis is to make sure your mouth stays healthy, avoiding costly and somewhat painful procedures in the future. If we commit to a healthy dental daily routine, we can prevent cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss.

Brush every day at least twice a day and floss at least once a day, to remove any remaining food and prevent bacteria and the formation of dental plaque in between your teeth.
Eat healthy. Foods with sugars and carbohydrates are converted into acids that produce dental plaque and eventually will result in tooth decay. On the other hand, calcium, found in vegetables, makes enamel more resistant to decay.
Try to stay away from hazardous habits like smoking, chewing tobacco and drinking alcohol. Those habits are responsible for teeth discoloration, plaque buildup, gum disease, tooth loss and even oral cancer.
Visit your dentist/hygienist regularly. The ideal is to go for a cleaning every 6 months. In some situations, your dental professional may want you to visit the office once every 3 or 4 months if you’re in risk of oral disease.

At your prophy/cleaning appointment, your hygienist will remove dental plaque, calculus and stains with appropriate tools, avoiding, consequently, the building of dental tartar. Your dental professional will also perform oral cancer screening and give you individualized information and tips to maintain your teeth healthy.

Preventive Dentistry for Children

In addition to general dental care, children can also benefit from sealants and fluoride treatment.

A dental sealant is a thin coating that is applied to the surfaces of the molars to prevent the formation of plaque inside pits and fissures. Your hygienist will apply it during the cleaning appointment.

Fluoride is used to strengthen the teeth structure. It makes teeth more resistant to decay and can also reverse the process of decay if it has already begun. It is easily absorbed into children’s growing teeth; but adults also benefit from it, whether from fluoride therapies applied at the dental office or by using specific kinds of toothpaste and mouth rinses recommended by your dental professional.