What is Preventative Dentistry?

Have you heard the analogy of a fence at the top of a cliff instead of an ambulance at the bottom? Well, preventative dental care is a little like that. While it’s important to see your dentist if you experience an injury, tooth pain or sensitivity, there’s a lot you can do to keep your oral health robust, preventing serious tooth troubles later on.

Our family-run dental clinic in Tauranga believes preventative dentistry is key to a healthy smile. Here are some of the best ways to take care of your oral health and avoid gum disease, cavities and worn-down enamel.

A healthy diet

People can be surprised when their dentist tells them how important a balanced diet is to their tooth and gum health – but it’s the truth. When it comes to your teeth, your food choices can make a big difference. A healthy diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables which give you the nutrients to need for healing, good water content for hydration and a lot of crunch which fights plaque from building up on your teeth.

A healthy diet also limits sugary foods which contribute to tooth decay and high citrus foods which wear away at your tooth’s enamel.

Good dental habits

Dentists can sound a little like a broken record, but the reality is there’s nothing as beneficial for your teeth as brushing twice a day and flossing. Another good habit is to get into is changing your toothbrush regularly. If it starts to fray, it’s time for a change, otherwise, every three months is ideal.

Protection

While brushing your teeth and eating veggies will keep your mouth in tip top shape, they won’t prevent injury. If you play a lot of high contact sports, wearing a mouthguard is invaluable. It will cushion your teeth, preventing chipped or broken teeth as well as limiting injuries to your lips, tongue or jaw. Your dentist can make you a custom mouthguard that will fit you perfectly.

Regular dentist checks

We like to think of our dentists and dental hygienists as particularly friendly, gentle and kind, but we get it – some people are just afraid of trips to the dentist! To those people we say, a little pain, a lot of gain. If you book six-monthly dentist checks, they’ll be quick and painless. If you put them off, it’s far more likely you’ll need more invasive procedures like fillings, crowns or other major dental work.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Book in an appointment with the dentists at Duncan Dental in Tauranga today.

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