Preventive dental technologies just keep getting better and better, which means our dental team is better equipped to help you get the treatments you need to avoid dental problems. Today our O’Fallon dentists will be talking about some of the important at-home and in-office preventive steps that you can take to care for your smile.
Let’s get started!
In terms of at-home care, a good preventive oral hygiene routine starts with brushing and flossing as recommended by your dentist. For most people, this means flossing once a day (at night, before you brush), and brushing morning and night.
· You may choose to use an electric toothbrush or Waterpik to further clean your smile—talk to your dentist about whether these technologies are right for you
· You can also incorporate a specially-formulated mouth rinse into your routine if your dental team deems it appropriate. Various mouthwashes are designed to kill oral bacteria and fortify enamel
It is important that you combine your at-home oral hygiene efforts with professional care in order to effectively safeguard your smile. Make sure that you are completing professional dental cleanings every six months or so, in order to keep too much plaque from building up on your smile. Your dental team will let you know if you need to follow an alternative professional cleaning schedule.
· Your dentist may also recommend treatments like sealants to protect your natural enamel from acid and bacteria.
· Patients with diminished enamel density may require topical fluoride treatments to strengthen their teeth.
The more that you do to protect your teeth from damage now, the better your dental prognosis will be in years to come. If you have questions about how to effectively care for and protect your smile, please feel free to call our O’Fallon dentists. We are here to help you make the most of your professional and at-home dental care!