Americans have a love-hate relationship with the dentist.
On one hand,
85% of people in the US believe that oral health is a crucial component of their overall well-being. According to the same source, though, just 58% of us see the dentist as often as we’d like to. Oh, and a mere 25% are extremely satisfied with the state of teeth, gums, and mouth.
If you’ve been hoping to get better at caring for your teeth, then the practice of preventative dentistry could hold all the answers. A pillar of dental hygiene, you can use it to avoid dental problems and facilitate your overall oral health.
Want to find out more about it and how you stand to gain? Well, you’re in the right place! Keep reading to learn all about preventative dental care and its many advantages.
At its most basic, preventative dentistry is the all-important process of looking after your oral health. It encapsulates everything and anything that one should do in this ongoing endeavor. For example:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day? That’s preventative dentistry.
- Flossing your teeth every night? That’s preventative dentistry too.
- Eating a balanced diet that’s good for your teeth, gums, and overall well-being? Yep, preventive dentistry!
How about attending regular check-ups with the dentist? You bet that’s preventative dentistry.
In other words, it’s the lifelong practice of tending to your teeth! From childhood through to adulthood, and all the way to old age, you’re taking steps to avoid gum disease, escape cavities, and steer clear of anything dentally untoward. That’s preventative dentistry in a nutshell.
Prevention’s always better than cure, right? That’s why preventative dentistry is the real secret to a happier, healthier set of teeth and gums.
By maintaining high standards of oral health, you can limit the likelihood of suffering the wide-array of painful (and often expensive) problems that are sure to arise otherwise. The benefits don’t stop there, though! Here’s a selection of the primary advantages associated with preventative dentistry:
1. You’ll Avoid Debilitating Ailments
As we just mentioned, preventative dentistry makes debilitating dental issues less likely. Indeed, the small investment of the time it takes to clean and floss your teeth could prevent the discomfort of cavities, abscesses, and other unwelcome oral problems. However, it’s also worth noting that it can
save your life!
Few people realize how
some serious dental problems (such as gingivitis and decay) can be life-threatening when they’re left untreated. Fail to look after your teeth or see the dentist, then, and you could suffer from significant health complications.
2. You’ll Identify Issues Early
Preventative dentistry makes dental problems much less likely, but there are never any guarantees. No matter how diligent you try to be, these issues can and will develop over time. Heck, even dentists suffer from the occasional cavity or a minor build-up of decay!
The good news is that preventative measures help identify such concerns early on. As a result, you limit the treatment that’s required. You save oodles of time, money, and unnecessary discomfort in the process.
3. You’ll Learn About Oral Hygiene
Dentists aren’t just there to clean peoples’ teeth and treat any issues that arise. As experts in oral hygiene, they’re well-placed to educate their clients too. Visit the dentist, then, and they’ll explain how to take better care of your teeth and gums at home.
More importantly, their advice isn’t generic in nature. They examine
your mouth and explain what
you need to do to look after
your teeth. From avoiding certain foods to using a different toothbrush, there could be all sorts of useful tactics you can use in your oral hygiene routine.
4. You’ll Save Money
Seeing the dentist as part of your preventative dentistry efforts isn’t always cheap. However, it’s a definite
investment that’s likely to pay for itself down the line. Why?
Because biannual check-ups are a bargain compared to the cost of more serious dental procedures. Yet that’s exactly what you might need if you fail to visit the dentist (and allow your oral hygiene to lapse in the meantime). Fillings, crowns, and
root canals can cost thousands of dollars that you could have saved through preventative dentistry.
5. You’ll Feel More Confident
People with dental problems often experience trouble with their self-esteem as well. They feel self-conscious about their appearance and anxious about the perception of others. In the worst-cases, they might even find it difficult to leave the house and engage in an active social life.
Preventative dentistry should help you avoid that kind of fate. Seeing the dentist and looking after your teeth will ensure they continue to look amazing. You’ll have a gleaming set of pearly whites to show off to your friends and family.
6. You’ll Enjoy Fewer Dental Visits
As we’ve seen, going to the
dentist on a regular basis is super important. But, let’s face it, most of us prefer to spend our time in other ways! We’d rather be out with friends, playing with the kids, or relaxing on our days off work.
That’s where preventative dentistry comes in. It’s by far the best way to stay out of the dentist's chair. Having taken action to keep your teeth in top condition, there’ll be less need to see the dentist for help.
