Learn About Preventative Dental Care in Livermore

If you are looking for preventative dental care in Livermore, look no further than our dental office that specializes in providing the advice and care necessary to keep your teeth in pristine condition.

What is Preventive Dentistry?

Preventive dental care is the practice of taking care of your teeth on a regular basis in order to avoid cavities, excessive wearing down of the enamel, gingivitis, or periodontitis (gum disease). If you wish to protect yourself against more painful, and potentially very expensive restorative procedures, the importance of properly managing your oral health cannot possibly be overstated. If you live in or around the area, our preventative dental care will find and stop cavities or any other form of dental disease in their earliest stage, thus protecting your smile, reducing the risk of secondary problems, and saving you from what can be exorbitant dental costs. Preventative care will also help avoid all the pain and discomfort associated with complicated restorative procedures.

The Two Sides of Preventive Dental Care

There are two equally important aspects of preventive dental care.

The first is your daily oral hygiene routine, which includes:

Brushing: Brushing your teeth at least twice daily with a soft-bristled brush that easily reaches all areas of your mouth. Two important points to note are that you should be gentle with your teeth and be sure and replace your toothbrush 3-4 times a year or sooner if the bristles appear frayed. Toothbrushes that are worn will not clean your teeth as thoroughly as necessary and can also damage your gums.

Flossing: Floss wherever the bristles of your toothbrush cannot reach, into the tight spaces between your teeth where decay-causing bacteria can thrive and grow. Daily flossing helps remove food particles and plaque from between the teeth and from under the gum line.

Diet: Since bacteria in the mouth converts sugars and carbohydrates in foods to acids, which then attack the enamel on your teeth, what you eat and how often you eat it can play a crucial role in whether or not you develop tooth decay. On the other hand, foods like nuts, vegetables, and apples can either help your teeth by providing the phosphorus and calcium necessary to e-mineralize your teeth or by stimulating saliva, which helps wash away food particles and acid, thus protecting your teeth.

The second is regular dental cleaning and checkups.

Since effective, preventive dentistry depends on a combination of at-home oral care combined with regular check-ups, treatments, and counselling by professionals, the second facet of preventive dental care is a semi-annual visit to your dentist.

Even the most serious dental problems are usually painless in the initial stages, which is why many people do not discover a severe problem until after significant damage has already been done. Regular dental checkups enable us to prevent any problems before they gain a foothold. Additionally, a professional cleaning removes plaque that you may be unable to remove yourself and a dental x-ray enables us to see hidden problems such as cavities between your teeth or problems below your gum line.

Finally, we can give you advice that will help every member of your family practice good, oral hygiene. For example, we teach you the best methods for brushing and flossing your teeth, what foods to incorporate into your diet, and which ones to avoid as much as possible.

If you wish to maintain optimum oral health, preventative dental care in Livermore is the best possible means of doing so.