Aside from keeping your teeth clean with good dental hygiene practices, there can be different specific goals for your dental health care. For example, if your smile is healthy, you’ll need professional care from your dentist to keep it that way by consistently removing tartar (calcified plaque) from your teeth and gums. If you have a tooth that’s decaying or damaged, then you’ll need personalized treatment to address it and restore the tooth. In most cases, the ultimate goal of your care is help you better preserve your healthy, natural teeth, and there are steps you can take to keep your risks of losing teeth at a minimum.
Take your dental hygiene routine seriously
Your daily dental hygiene routine can be more important than you realize to your overall tooth loss risks. The most common cause of tooth loss is the development of severe gum disease, which begins when oral bacteria are allowed to overwhelm and infect your gum tissues. Your dental hygiene routine, which involves consistently brushing and flossing your teeth and gums every day, is paramount to preventing the development of gum disease, or spotting it early if it does. Good dental hygiene is also the key to preventing other chronic oral health concerns that could compromise your teeth, including severe tooth decay.
Visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings
Part of your good dental hygiene routine includes visiting your dentist regularly for professional checkup and cleaning appointments. While you can successfully keep most oral bacteria buildup at bay by brushing and flossing each day, most people can leave behind small deposits of plaque without realizing it. These can quickly calcify into tartar, which can’t be removed with toothpaste and water, and the accumulation of oral bacteria can become a greater threat to your oral health. The only way to remove tartar and the threat that it poses is for your dentist or hygienist to clean it away professionally.
Address dental problems as early as possible
During your routine visits to your dentist’s office, professionally cleaning away plaque and tartar is only part of the visit. The other includes a comprehensive examination of your teeth, gums, and oral tissues to determine if any problems have developed since your last visit. If your dentist notices signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or other concern that could threaten your oral health, then you may need additional treatment to address it. The sooner you seek treatment, the greater chance you’ll have of keeping your risks of tooth loss manageable.
Learn how to lower your risks of tooth loss
Tooth loss can be the result of numerous different factors, which is why the best way to lower your risks of it is to take consistently good care of your teeth and smile. To learn more, schedule an appointment with us by calling Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at 913-681-5500. We also serve patients who live in Overland Park and all surrounding communities.
