Novato Family Dentist Stresses Importance of Preventive Dental Treatments

Written by Dr. McConnell on Jan 6, 2015

We all understand how important it is to take good care of your teeth if you want to enjoy a lifetime of problem-free oral health. But we all have busy schedules, and it’s not uncommon that routine preventive treatments end up at the bottom of your lengthy to-do list.

The Novato Family Dentist understands that you and your family are busy, and it may not always be a priority to schedule dental appointments. Today, we’d like to take this opportunity to remind you of the importance of prevention and why proper preventive care for your family’s teeth is so important.

Routine Professional Dental Cleanings

Food and beverages that are consumed during the day stick to the surfaces of our teeth. This creates the substance we know as plaque. Since plaque buildup is not obvious, you may not even be aware of the presence of these bacteria until you have a dental problem. Scheduling professional cleanings twice a year is critical to monitoring plaque build-up so action can be taken.

Regular Dental Checkups

Equally important are comprehensive dental exams. This allows your dentist to identify any underlying issues and address them before they create more serious problems in the future.

Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is important for keeping teeth your family’s teeth healthy and strong. It is available through topical applications in the dental office as well as tooth paste and mouth rinses. Another great source of fluoride is non-bottled drinking water.

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are used to fill in tiny crevices on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. Children especially benefit from the application of sealants used to protect their permanent teeth.

Daily Oral Hygiene

If you’re not sure which products will be most effective for maintaining your daily oral health, your dental hygienist will be happy to guide you in selecting the proper oral health products. Diligent at-home oral hygiene is one of the most effective and least expensive ways to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Protective Mouth Guards

Participating in activities where teeth or soft mouth tissue are at risk should always include wearing a mouth guard. A mouth guard can be custom-crafted by our Novato Family Dentist to provide a perfect fit and effective protection for your teeth. Patients who suffer from teeth grinding (bruxism) can also benefit from wearing a mouth guard.

Please give us a call to arrange your semi-annual dental cleaning and examination. Your teeth are an irreplaceable asset. Make sure you protect them with proper care.