Is your current oral hygiene routine as effective at cavity prevention as it should be? If you let a cavity develop, the damage to your tooth will be permanent even if the problem is caught and treated early. Keeping this in mind is important, as is a commitment to smart preventive dental care. Fortunately, your efforts to avoid decay are supported by your dentist – with regular dental exams at our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, you receive helpful evaluations and cleanings to prevent future problems with cavities. Combining these visits with a smart, thorough oral care routine at home can help you avoid future appointments for restorative dental work!
Why Are You Having A Hard Time Preventing Cavities?
If you have had several cavities in the past, or if you have had recent issues with decay, you may have some questions about what you can do to better protect your smile. Some people see less value from their oral hygiene routine because wear and tear over time has weakened their teeth to decay. Others may not realize how changes in their diet have raised their cavity risk. It is important to think about how these factors can change your vulnerability to cavities, but you should also take time to make sure that your daily brushing and flossing habits are truly effective.
Improving Your Approach To Brushing And Flossing
There are a few helpful questions to ask yourself if you want to make sure your smile care routine is as effective as it could be:
- Are you brushing for at least two minutes every time you clean your teeth?
- Do you floss on a daily basis, and not just when you feel something stuck between your teeth?
- How likely are you to miss a brushing session?
- Are you using the right toothpaste and toothbrush?
These questions may seem simple, but the routine of daily dental care can become so familiar that you can start to overlook small mistakes that can lead to more problems. Recognizing and addressing them can have long-term value for your dental health.
Have You Been Consistent With Dental Exams?
You should see your dentist every six months to have your oral health evaluated. When patients fall out of this habit, they lose out on helpful updates about their oral health as well as cleanings that remove stubborn tartar from their teeth. These services help to prevent problems with your dental health as well as your periodontal health. They also allow for the discovery and treatment of cavities that have just formed, which will limit your risk for advanced decay that requires the placement of a dental crown.
Talk To Your Ankeny, IA Dentist’s Office About Better Cavity Prevention
Our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office is prepared to help patients avoid future problems with dental decay. To learn more about our services, please contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230.
