By taking a proactive approach to preserving one’s oral health, patients can prevent the need for costly and invasive procedures brought on by untreated dental conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease. Our dentist strives to provide affordable dentistry by taking a preventive approach to caring for our patients.
Oral Hygiene and Regular Dental Visits
Preserving your teeth as you age begins with practicing proper oral hygiene. To adequately remove plaque—bacterial deposits along teeth and gums that contribute to cavities—patients should brush their teeth at least twice a day for roughly two minutes each time. In addition to thorough brushing, flossing should be conducted daily to clean in between teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach.
Although practicing thorough oral hygiene is important to maintaining a healthy smile, regular visits to our dental office are important, too. Professional dental cleanings remove substances like tartar that cannot be removed with home-care and regular examinations can reveal oral health conditions in their earliest stages. For example, routine checkups help our dentist detect cavities early on so that a simple filling can restore a tooth and eliminate the need for a custom-made crown or endodontic procedures such as root canal treatments.
Healthy Dietary Habits
Patients can also preserve their teeth by limiting intake of sugary and acidic foods and beverages. Sugars and strong acids contribute to cavities by feeding harmful bacteria and stripping away minerals that protect teeth from decay. Furthermore, patients should adopt a habit of drinking plenty of water throughout the day to help rinse the mouth of food debris and dilute acid.
To learn more about preserving your oral health with affordable dentistry, contact the office of Dr. Philip Kozlow at 972-458-2464 to schedule a professional cleaning or dental checkup.