Want to have a beautiful and healthy smile for the rest of your life? Then, see your Denton family dentist Dr. Dunson twice a year for checkups and stick to a stringent at-home hygiene routine. Yes, it’s that simple. Of course, there may be times when you need some restorative care such as a filling or dental crown. But overall, the basics of scheduled dental checkups and good brushing and flossing will go a long way to help you.

An Ounce of Prevention…

You know the old cliché—an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Those words were never truer than when it comes to dentistry. In fact, dentistry is designed to be preventive. That’s why the American Dental Association—and most dental insurance carriers, too—advocate seeing your dentist two times a year for dental checkups. In addition to cleaning and polishing your teeth to a brilliant shine, we also conduct a thorough examination of your oral cavity. Denton dentist Dr. Dunson wants to prevent problems from getting out of hand.

Tooth Decay and Gum Disease Control

For example, tooth decay is a common concern. Every time you eat, but especially after enjoying foods with sugar, the number of bacteria in your mouth increases. This increase can lead to the start of a cavity if you don’t adhere to brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing, too.

According to Dr. Dunson, brushing and flossing reduces the number of bacteria, thereby helping to stave off the problem of tooth decay at the source. In addition, you remove plaque, which is that sticky and colorless film your mouth produces all day and every day. Bacteria stick to plaque, and plaque sticks to your teeth. Eventually, plaque can harden, becoming tartar. Now, the bacteria are well entrenched on the surfaces of your teeth as well as above and below the gum line. If not removed, tooth decay and gum disease become a serious threat to your oral health.

Eliminating Bad Breath, Too

Those bacteria may not only lead to dental problems, they can also lead to social problems. Let’s face it—bad breath is a turn off. But like tooth decay and gum disease, you can avoid bad breath with good oral hygiene. Food particles left behind after you eat can emit offensive odors. And the bacteria they feed produce waste that can also contribute to bad breath. Brushing and flossing remove these offenders, leaving you with a clean mouth and fresh breath.

Call Our Office Today

If you’re due for a dental checkup, or if you need advice on how to take better care of your teeth at home, then contact Southridge Dental.