Left untreated, dental infections and periodontal disease will not only affect the appearance of your smile but can destroy your oral health. Neglecting routine at-home oral and professional care places you at greater risk for these conditions, and when you do try to “catch up” you may face complications that require complex dental work to restore the health and function of your smile. 

Make Preventive Care a Priority

Novato family dentist Dr. Steven McConnell teaches his patients that prevention is the key to maintaining a beautiful, healthy smile. By making your dental care a priority you can save you the future cost and embarrassment of dental disease.

One of our goals is to educate you about the best ways to avoid cavities and gum disease. Even the most consistent routine of brushing and flossing alone is not enough to maintain a healthy smile. Practicing good at-home oral hygiene is vital, but it must be paired with professional dental cleanings to be really effective.

As we eat, drink, and speak a sticky bacterial film called plaque coats tooth enamel and oral tissue. Flossing and brushing help to remove some plaque build-up but cannot eliminate it completely. The plaque that is not removed hardens into a substance called tartar. Tartar continues to build up on teeth, causing dental decay, gum disease, and eventually tooth loss unless it is removed through regular professional cleanings. 

Be Proactive with Oral Health Care

You can take control of your dental health by:

1. Maintaining a proactive at-home cleaning schedule (to reduce daily plaque build-up)
2. Seeing your dentist for semi-annual professional cleanings (to remove tartar and give you a “clean slate” for brushing and flossing).

Please Call for an Appointment

It is never too late to get back on track with your dental health routine. Start by scheduling a visit with the Novato family dentist for professional teeth cleaning to give yourself and your family the best possible chance for optimal oral health.