Preventative Dentistry at Home

Preventative dentistry is essential to practice at Thayer Dental Care and at home. With good preventive dentistry, you can not only maintain a beautiful smile, but you can also prevent dental concerns in the future. One way to practice preventative dentistry at home is by brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash twice a day. During the day, debris from foods and drinks builds up and attracts bacteria. The build-up of the bacteria creates acid on your teeth that burns holes through the outer layer of the tooth. These holes then collect debris which leads to tooth decay. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash twice a day can help remove the debris before bacteria begins to accumulate. 

Preventative Dentistry at Thayer Dental Care

We do a few things to help you practice preventative dentistry and maintain a beautiful and healthy smile in our office. First, we recommend that our patients visit our office every six months for a dental cleaning and exam. This dental cleaning and exam will remove plaque and debris from your teeth to prevent dental decay and other dental concerns. The dental exam is important because he can diagnose dental problems early to care for them before they become too big. Below are a few more services that we offer as a part of preventative dentistry. 

Dental Sealants

To strengthen your back molars, Dr. Patel recommends dental sealants. Dr. Patel paints a sealant on your back molars for this preventative procedure. The sealant will cover up the grooves in the tooth where bacteria can collect. With the sealant, instead of bacteria accumulating in the tooth’s grooves, it will slide off the sealant. Sealants can last up to seven to ten years and are a valuable investment to prevent dental decay. 

Dental Fluoride

Another tool that Dr. Patel uses in his office to prevent dental concerns is dental fluoride. You may have heard of fluoride added to other dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Now, you can receive a dental fluoride treatment from Thayer Dental Care. The fluoride treatment chemically strengthens the outer layer of your tooth called the enamel. With a stronger outer layer, it is more difficult for bacteria to create holes in your tooth, preventing the development of dental decay. 

It is important to practice preventative dentistry daily for a long-lasting beautiful smile. Brush, floss, and use mouthwash twice a day to help remove debris and bacteria from the outer surface of your tooth. Doing this will help prevent dental decay. Additionally, Dr. Patel recommends that his patients visit the dental office every six months for a dental cleaning and exam. The dental team will remove plaque and debris from your teeth during this visit, and Dr. Patel can diagnose and treat any dental concerns. Next, Dr. Patel recommends dental sealants and fluoride. Sealants work to prevent decay in the back molars of your mouth. A sealant will cover the back molars of the mouth to avoid the build-up of bacteria. Lastly, Dr. Patel recommends dental fluoride, which strengthens the outer layer of your tooth. For more information on preventative dentistry or to schedule an appointment, call our office today.