Set for oral hygiene with stethoscope on color backgroundYour smile’s health is the most important factor to consider when caring for your grin. Indeed, the many components of your oral cavity – such as the teeth, gums, roots, tongue, lips, cheeks, and throat – contribute to your dental health, and it is important to provide adequate care that considers all of these aspects. Still, many individuals are unaware that their preventive routine is incomplete, and they may actually be subjecting their smiles to increased chances of infection. In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS dentist explains the necessary components of a preventive dental routine and how you can better protect your smile.

Why it is More Than Brushing

When many people think of preventive dentistry, the first thing to come to mind is often brushing their teeth. In fact, you can probably remember a time or two when your parent or guardian figure made you brush your teeth after you thought you could get away with skipping it.

Indeed, while brushing is necessary to rid their structures of bacteria-laden plaque and tartar buildup, it is far from the only practice that benefits your grin. As a matter of fact, preventive dentistry can be viewed more realistically as a routine with a few separate components.

One major practice that is important for your periodontal health involves flossing after meals. You see, everyone experiences a piece of food becoming lodged in-between teeth. While some are able to work themselves out on their own, other instances see these particles remaining. Without a way of dislodging these particles, bacteria can swarm to the site to feed, thus making their way beneath the gum line. To learn more about the dangers of forgetting to floss, contact our team today.

Receiving Professional Care

Another important factor that contributes to a healthy smile is taking the time to attend routine checkups. These appointments are helpful because they allow a professional to carefully examine your smile for signs of decay or infection. What’s more? A preventive dental appointment allows our team to help identify any concerns and, ideally, ensure that minor issues do not develop into major ones. To learn more about this process, reach out to our team today.

Recognizing Harmful Foods

Your preventive routine does not stop with tooth-related care. In fact, it is important to know that your diet also influences the strength of your teeth. For instance, sugars that are in many sweet treats and foods actually cause bacteria to produce a destructive acid, leading to dental decay. Another example includes the way that acids contained in berries and citrus actively wear down your protective layer of enamel.

Schedule Your Next Appointment

Contact Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS by calling 913-681-5500 to schedule your next appointment with our team today and learn more about proper preventive care.