DENTAL PREVENTION IS VITAL TO AVOID ORAL DISEASES
Suffering facial, mouth, or throat pain, having sores, etc. are conditions that can negatively influence our rhythm and quality of life. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits will help us to have better prevention of oral diseases and maintain good dental health.
- Maintaining proper daily hygiene is the first step to a healthy mouth. To do so, it is necessary to use a good tooth brushing technique, preferably with a soft bristle toothbrush, floss properly, and make adequate use of mouthwashes or mouth rinses. Of course, brushing your teeth should be a daily routine. By doing so, we manage to remove food debris and bacteria, and it leaves us with fresh breath. It is also essential to prevent tooth decay.
- It is advisable to visit the dentist regularly for dental and oral cleaning, so an examination is recommended at least once a year. This will help to avoid or minimize future dental problems and periodontal diseases.
- Having a healthy and balanced diet, avoiding foods with high sugar content, such as sweets, fizzy and/or sugary drinks, is another aspect that contributes to good oral quality.
- Avoiding tobacco not only avoids serious diseases such as cancer, but also helps to enjoy better oral health.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE DENTISTRY (OMI)
Dental caries is an infectious disease that requires individual susceptibility and the presence of cariogenic bacterial plaque that is maintained by a sugar-rich diet. If all three factors are present, bacteria ferment sugars, producing acid that reduces the normally neutral pH of the oral environment. The acid attacks the tooth enamel, causing demineralization and, finally, caries.
In our dental clinic in Tarragona, we are committed to the OMI (Minimally Invasive Dentistry) program as the best medical method for the treatment of caries.
Its principles are very simple:
- Identify and evaluate in advance any possible caries risk factor.
- Prevent the appearance of caries by eliminating or minimizing these risk factors.
- Restore demineralized enamel and protect it from further damage.
- Offer check-up periods to the patient depending on susceptibility to caries.
FOR GOOD ORAL HEALTH
Oral health care should always start in childhood. Of course, starting good habits at an early age, establishing routines and healthy habits, is essential for children.
A preventive visit to the dentist protects health and saves money on dental treatment. Because, through preventive dentistry and prevention of dental problems, the cost of treatment is reduced.
In our preventive visits, we offer you:
- Oral hygiene instructions to achieve optimal oral health.
- Periodontal prophylaxis.
- Radiological examination to detect caries.
- Review of old cavities and root canals.
- Advice in case of detecting a problem.
Frequent Questions
Is there a relationship between oral health and general health?
We know more and more about the relationship between oral health and the rest of the human body. The inflammatory process, especially periodontal, that is, infection and inflammation of the gums, causes changes in the body that can unbalance the defense systems.
This situation occurs especially in sensitive patients such as diabetics, as the glucose level can be unbalanced, or patients with cardiovascular problems. Women should also take care of their oral health during pregnancy and menopause, as well as athletes if they want to prevent injuries.
Is it advisable to use fluoride after brushing?
It is advisable to use it as a mouthwash, especially in children, because it protects against caries, as it strengthens tooth enamel against the aggression of cariogenic bacteria. Fortunately, the incidence of caries has decreased a lot in our country thanks to the fact that in many areas of Spain tap water is fluoridated and that now all toothpastes contain fluoride.
Is the use of an electric toothbrush recommended?
In most cases, if the brushing technique is correct, we can achieve good oral hygiene with a conventional toothbrush. We recommend the electric toothbrush because its head and rotating movements make it easier to reach all tooth surfaces. Many have a timer so you can control the brushing time and it warns you if you exert too much pressure. It is very useful for people who have difficulty controlling the movements of the manual toothbrush or those who lack time and patience.
What is the role of dental floss in dental hygiene?
Teeth cannot be properly cleaned with a toothbrush alone. The lateral sides of the teeth require some type of specific instrument that can access them. When the teeth are close together, flossing is the best way to clean them.
Floss is a very useful instrument, but it requires skill, time, and patience, so its use is less widespread than it should be.
When do we use interdental brushes?
There are people who have spaces between the teeth, due to tooth displacement or gum loss. In these cases, an interdental toothbrush is more useful to access the inner side of the teeth than floss.
This type of toothbrush is easy to use and completes the hygiene achieved with a conventional toothbrush.
How often should we do oral hygiene?
If there is no underlying pathology, we should go to the dentist for professional hygiene at least once a year. Depending on the level of risk and hygiene, two to three times a year is recommended. The most appropriate frequency for each individual case is determined for each person. Professional hygiene should be complemented with good daily hygiene to maintain teeth in optimal conditions and prevent possible oral diseases.
Our patients Say
Testimónios
