Patient Check List: Prevention

Good Preventive Care habits

• Visiting the Dentist Regularly – The regular checkup is important. Almost all oral diseases are asymptomatic in their early stages; including periodontitis, gingivitis, decay, and oral cancer. In addition, these problems are much easier and less expensive to fix when caught early.
• Updating Medical History with Dentist – Many medical conditions adversely impact your oral health both directly (diabetes, AIDS, Sjogren’s, etc.) and indirectly due to medications used (hypertension, heart disease, depression, cancer, etc.). Your dentist must be aware of all conditions and medications, even if it does not seem pertinent, to properly manage your treatment and prevention program.

• Reducing Frequency of Sugar Intake – The amount of sugars eaten throughout the day is not as important as the frequency of intake. This includes both simple sugars and starches. The mouth has a natural buffering capacity in the saliva which neutralizes the bacterial acids, thus minimizing decalcification of enamel. Frequent sugar doses overload this ability.

• Not Smoking – Smoking is just plain terrible for your mouth. Stained yellow to eth are the obvious problems, but the hidden damage is far more threatening. Smokers are much more likely to suffer oral cancer than non-smokers. Periodontal disease in smokers is more severe, progresses faster, and responds very poorly to treatment.

• Protecting Your Teeth – Dental protection includes the obvious, such as wearing mouth guards for sports. Less obvious ways to protect your teeth from trauma include always wearing a seatbelt, never using your teeth as tools, and wearing a night guard if bruxism is evident.

• Using Mouthwash – Mouthwashes and prescription rinses used twice daily help reduce gingivitis when accompanied by proper brushing and flossing.

• Brushing and Flossing – The simple act of proper daily hygiene will prevent the majority of dental troubles in most people.