Family Dentist in Troy, Ohio Explains Need for Prevention

Written by Dr. Bentley on Aug 18, 2015

Dental disease and infections not only affect the appearance of your smile but, left untreated, can seriously damage your oral health. It’s extremely important to be proactive about at-home oral hygiene, otherwise you increase your risk of losing teeth and jawbone density. This can lead to complications that result in complex and costly dental treatment.

Prevention is the Key

Prevention is the key to maintaining a beautiful healthy smile. If you practice diligent dental care you can save yourself the cost and embarrassment of dental disease. The Family Dentist in Troy, Ohio, focuses on patient education as one of the most effective ways to help prevent cavities and gum disease.

As important as personal oral hygiene is, however, you may not be aware that even the most conscientious brushing and flossing alone is not enough to keep your smile healthy. Routine at-home oral hygiene is necessary, but it must be paired with professional dental cleanings.

Importance of Professional Cleanings

Your teeth may feel clean, but only a professional cleaning by the Family Dentist in Troy, Ohio, can thoroughly remove plaque – a sticky bacterial film that coats enamel and oral tissue as we eat, drink, and speak. Flossing and brushing are useful at removing plaque build-up but cannot eliminate it completely.

Plaque that is not removed with at-home brushing and flossing eventually hardens into a substance called tartar. Without professional cleanings, tartar continues to build up on teeth, causing dental decay, gum disease, and eventually tooth loss.

The best way to ensure your dental health is to maintain a proactive at-home cleaning schedule (to reduce daily plaque build-up) and see your dentist for semi-annual professional cleanings to remove tartar and give you a “clean slate” for brushing and flossing.

Please Contact our Office

By scheduling routine visits to your dental professional you give yourself and your family the best possible chance for optimal oral health. Please contact our office today to schedule an appointment for a professional cleaning and exam.