Preventative Dentistry

As the old saying goes, ‘prevention is favourable to cure’, and this is especially important when considering your teeth and gums.

Teeth are incredibly tough and withstand a lot every single day. However, a certain amount of wear, tear and poor lifestyle choices can lead to teeth failing, and in severe cases, requiring an extraction. Preventative dentistry is all about avoiding such problems, so that your natural teeth stay with you your whole life long.

What is preventative dentistry?

‘Preventative dentistry’ is an umbrella phrase for methods, treatments and techniques designed to fend off problems with your teeth and gums. Preventative dentistry starts with you, at home. Employing a good oral hygiene routine and eating the right diet is an essential part of preventative dentistry. You should be looking to bolster this with regular visits to the dentist and the hygienist, even if you think your teeth and gums are in good shape.

One of the problematic things about human teeth and gums is that often, unpleasant symptoms don’t reveal themselves until very late down the line. In visiting the hygienist (who focuses on the health of your gums) and the dentist (who can be likened to GP for all things teeth), problems that you might not notice at home can be treated early.

Should we notice problems like decay, the onset of gum disease, or chips and cracks in your teeth, we can intervene with treatment designed to reduce the need for more serious measures in the future.

Advising and encouraging you, every step of the way

Preventative dental care is as much about responding to developing problems early, as it is about offering constructive and supporting advice to patients.

We very much enjoy passing on our knowledge to patients, and inspiring them to keep consistent with a good oral hygiene routine and lifestyle habits. The type of advice we can offer includes:

• Looking at your diet and advising on how you can make changes to swap out food and drink with high acid and sugar content, with a view to preventing tooth erosion and wear.
• How to be more efficient with your brushing and flossing technique.
• Helping you seek support to cut your alcohol consumption and use of tobacco products.
• Identifying the great types of toothpaste to use for your unique needs.