When your oral health is poor, there’s a risk of developing multiple oral issues such as decay, periodontal disease, poor bite, oral cancer, oral infections, jawbone damage, and tooth loss. Similarly, poor oral health can endanger your overall wellness by worsening or increasing the risk of developing diabetes, autoimmune, and cardiovascular diseases.
Apart from good at-home dental hygiene and habits, you should schedule regular dental exams and cleanings to maintain a healthy smile. It’s also important to seek treatment to address any oral issues. That’s where general dentistry comes in. General dentistry involves various services geared towards optimizing a patient’s oral health.
A general dentist offers basic dental care essential to maintaining good dental health. The dentist provides numerous services, including:
Routine dental exams are important to ensure good oral health. During the exam, the dentist checks your mouth for signs of oral issues such as cavities, gum disease, oral infections, oral cancer, and decay. If any problem is detected, the dentist offers the necessary treatment. If left untreated, these conditions can worsen, eventually leading to severe complications such as tooth loss, periodontitis, and jawbone deterioration.
There’s also a close association between your oral and overall health. Research suggests that poor oral health results from overall conditions such as endocarditis, cardiovascular diseases, pneumonia, pregnancy complications, and diabetes. Therefore, maintaining good oral health is crucial for enhancing your overall wellness.
Usually, your mouth contains hundreds of bacteria. These bacteria feed on the starch and sugar products that we consume. When you neglect your dental hygiene, the harmful bacteria mix with the food particles to form plaque and tartar and release toxic acid on the teeth. These acids erode the tooth’s enamel, exposing the tooth’s inner structure. It makes your teeth vulnerable to stains, breakage, decay, and tooth loss.
During a professional cleaning, the dentist scrapes off any tartar, plaque, and bacteria on the teeth and along the gum line. The dentist also cleans, flosses, and polishes the teeth to a smooth and bright finish. Professional cleanings prevent plaque, tartar, and bacteria buildup in the mouth, leading to oral issues such as cavities, decay, and gum disease.
Sometimes mistakes happen because of a lack of proper information. Your general dentist is also responsible for teaching you and your family good oral hygiene and habits. Your dentist can recommend brushing twice a day, flossing at least once daily, eating healthy, wearing mouthguards during sports, and scheduling regular dental exams. They are also likely to warn you about harmful habits such as smoking, chewing hard items, using the wrong dental products, high consumption of acidic and sugary foods, and excessive alcohol consumption.
One of the best ways to ensure excellent oral health is preventive care. Preventive dentistry focuses on preventing oral problems before they arise. Common preventive dental procedures include fluoride treatments and dental sealants. Fluoride hardens the teeth, making them stronger and healthier. Research also suggests that fluoride treatments reduce cavities by 70% and help gum disease.
Dental sealants are applied on the surfaces of the molars and premolars to cover the pits and grooves that help in chewing food. The sealants prevent plaque from getting trapped on the teeth, causing decay. The sealant also smoothens the teeth’ surfaces, making brushing and flossing much easier. Sealants are easy, quick, and painless to apply. They are ideal for both adults and children.
Timely and early intervention of oral issues is a great way to ensure excellent future oral health. A general dentist offers treatment for minor oral issues such as infections, tooth extraction, and cavities. Addressing these issues on time prevents the need for more invasive and costly treatments.
A general dentist also offers basic care in times of emergency. You can visit an emergency dental office near you for dental emergencies such as severe tooth pain, swelling, dental damage, and soft tissues injuries. A general dentist also polishes your teeth and can offer teeth whitening treatments to enhance the appearance of your smile.
For more information about general dental services near you, contact Dental Arts of Plymouth.
©2024 Dental Arts of Plymouth | Privacy Policy | Web Design, Digital Marketing & SEO By Adit | Notice of Nondiscrimination
