When it comes to your oral health, there are several factors to keep in mind. You have to consider such things as how often you should visit for preventive care, what oral hygiene habits you should maintain and much more. Thankfully, your dentist in Peabody is weighing in to fill in the gaps and shed some light, so you can enjoy the benefits of excellent oral health!
How Often Should You Visit the Dentist?
Preventive care visits are essential for reducing the number of major dental problems that could develop, for identifying problems and for thoroughly cleaning your oral cavity. A general rule of thumb is that you should visit every six months, but if you have a history of cavities, gingivitis or other oral problems, your dentist will probably suggest that you visit more often.
An example of the effectiveness of preventive care appointments is in your dentist’s ability to identify a cavity before you’d be able to detect it. In most cases, by the time a person recognizes a cavity, it has been developing for months or even years. By maintaining these consistent visits, though, your local professional will be able to address the developing cavity before it does significant damage to your tooth.
Oral Hygiene Matters!
Along with visiting your dentist semi-annually, you should be sure to practice excellent oral hygiene. The two most important habits to adopt are brushing and flossing at least twice a day. The former will agitate debris and particles that cling to the teeth and along the gumline, while flossing gets into the hard-to-reach places.
Many people will brush but slack on flossing, which amounts to only cleaning half of the surface of their teeth. To probe into the tight places where bacteria love to hide, only flossing can do the job. Additionally, it is a great practice to maintain for gum health, as it removes the leftover food particles that become acidic bacteria that eventually seep beneath the gumline.
In addition to brushing and flossing, you can use mouthwash for extra fortification and as a means to wash away excess bacteria. Furthermore, it helps to keep your mouth moist, which is important for maintaining a healthy environment.
When You’re in Pain, What Should You Do?
The final aspect for us to hash out is how you should respond to pain and emergency situations. It’s important to be able to gauge the type of discomfort you’re having, so that you can communicate effectively to your dentist staff if you call in an emergent situation.
For example, it’s necessary to differentiate between pain and sensitivity. If you have sensitive teeth and feel discomfort when you bite into an ice cream sandwich, that’s probably not an emergency. However, if you’re experiencing intense pain on one side of your face and around a tooth, you probably are experiencing a toothache and need to be seen soon.
The first step you should take in a traumatic situation is to calm yourself. Then, you should reach out your local dentist for assistance.
Now that you’re better informed, the only thing left to do is execute. To get the preventive care that you need, reach out to your local dentist.
About the Author
Dr. Spiro Saati earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He has since gone on to become an authority in the field of dentistry. In addition to providing his patients with expert care, Dr. Saati is a clinical instructor at Harvard Dental School. He can be reached for more information about his services through his website.