Whether we’re talking about a person’s home, car, or body, preemptive and preventative care is almost always cheaper, easier, and less time-consuming than the measures required to correct the serious damage or decay that accompanies procrastination and neglect.
This is particularly true of oral health, whose most costly and painful problems could often have been avoided with routine care and maintenance when everything was fine.
We’re looking here at seemingly minor steps that we all can proactively take over time to prevent painful, pricy, and time-consuming dental issues down the line. In other words, preventative dentistry.
What Is Preventative Dentistry?
In short, preventative dentistry is the collection of simple measures that we can take today to prevent serious dental health issues in the future.
This includes at-home steps and techniques like brushing at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day, regular antibacterial mouthwash rinses, and limiting consumption of overly acidic and sugary foods and drinks. Every bit as vital is regular dental cleanings and oral exams. These routine visits allow your dentist to thoroughly assess the health of your teeth and gums, identify any minor issues or risks of serious issues, and quickly and conveniently address them.
The Risks of Poor Preventative Dental Care
It’s impossible to overstate the downsides of poor or neglectful preventative care. Neglecting your teeth and taking them for granted can have a wide range of serious consequences:
- Cavities. If left untreated, minor cavities can allow bacteria and acid from food and drinks to erode your tooth enamel and expose the delicate pulp inside to infection.
- Gum disease. Along the same lines, poor oral hygiene can increase the risk of gum disease, which can result in everything from swelling, tenderness, and irritation to bleeding, infection of (and a loss of density in) the jawbone, and even tooth loss.
- Missed oral cancer diagnosis. Regular checkups greatly increase the chances of early diagnosis of any potential signs of cancer in your gums, lips, throat, and lymph dramatically boosting the chances of successful treatment.
Preventative Oral Health Care in Jonesboro, AR
If you’re in the Jonesboro area and want to ensure that you’re taking every possible precaution to prevent plaque, tartar, gum disease, and tooth decay, and safeguard your long-term oral health, contact dentist Dr. Anthony Bartels and the friendly and knowledgeable team at Anthony Bartels DDS of Corona to schedule an appointment!