Avoiding Time in the Dentist Chair

Most Americans would like to see the dentist regularly, but are afraid of how much it’ll cost.

Yet, what many people don’t realize is that preventive dental care costs much less than emergency treatment. Our dentist in Gahanna, OH offers teeth cleanings, oral examinations, and other services to help you maintain good oral health.

Continue reading to learn how to avoid time in the dentist’s chair and maintain a healthy smile for life. Contact our office today if you have any additional questions or concerns about your dental care, we are here to help!

HOW LONG CAN YOU GO WITHOUT SEEING A DENTIST?

It’s important to see us every 6 months for your routine teeth cleaning and oral examination. If you skip your next dentist appointment, you’re also skipping an opportunity for our dentist to detect the beginning signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues. Even if you take excellent care of your teeth at home, our dentist will be able to spot issues you can’t by taking X-rays and performing oral cancer screenings.

HOW CAN I PREVENT POOR ORAL HEALTH?

  • See our dentist every 6 months for preventive dental care
  • Brush your teeth twice a day
  • Floss your teeth once a day
  • Drink fluoridated water
  • Avoid foods that are high in sugar

DON’T SKIP ROUTINE DENTAL CARE

There are many people who don't like the dentist and yet, take such little care of their oral health that they end up having to make frequent trips to the dentist to repair damage to their teeth.

To avoid prolonged visits to our dental office, make sure you visit our family dentist every 6 months for a teeth cleaning and oral examination. By routinely visiting our dentist, you will learn about problems before they are serious. This helps prevent costly restorative treatments to repair damage that could have been prevented in the first place.

BRUSH YOUR TEETH TWICE A DAY

It’s important you brush your teeth twice a day to remove plaque. For the best results, brush for 2 minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush. You don’t have to brush very hard. In fact, doing this can make your teeth more sensitive to hot and cold foods. Instead, use gentle circular motions as you clean around each tooth.

FLOSS YOUR TEETH ONCE A DAY

Plaque likes to hide where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. This is why it’s important you floss your teeth at least once a day. (We recommend before bedtime.) That way, you’ll be able to remove plaque and food particles trapped in the tiny spaces between your teeth.

DRINK FLUORIDATED WATER

Enamel is the white outer layer of your tooth that protects the more sensitive layer of dentin beneath. For this reason, it’s important that you make sure your enamel doesn’t lose minerals over time. Drinking fluoridated water is a great way to strengthen your tooth enamel, increasing its resistance to cavities over time. In fact, communities with fluoridated water supplies tend to have lower rates of tooth decay.

LIMIT SWEETS

Do you like eating donuts, chocolate, and other sugary foods? If so, you’re not alone. The dental plaque that lives inside your mouth LOVES sugar. Plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that sticks to your teeth and gums. As plaque consumes sugar, it produces an acid that erodes away your natural tooth structure. While a certain amount of plaque is unavoidable, you can avoid sugary foods so you’re not rolling out the welcome mat for bacteria.

If left untreated, plaque buildup leads to tooth decay and gum disease. This is why we recommend seeing our dentist every 6 months for your routine teeth cleanings. Over time, plaque hardens into what we call tartar. While you can remove plaque at home, only a dental professional can remove tartar with special tools.

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT WITH PURE DENTAL

Our dentist in Gahanna, OH is accepting new patients! To request an appointment with Dr. Dawn Baker, call Pure Dental at (614) 475-7580.

WE'LL GIVE YOU A REASON TO SMILE!

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