Your dental health is crucial to your overall well-being. Regular checkups and cleanings keep plaque buildup to a minimum, which reduces the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Preventive care is healthcare that aims to improve health by detecting and treating diseases or conditions before they produce symptoms or complications. It includes services like routine vaccinations, screening tests, and education. Click here at https://bocadentallasvegas.com/ to learn more.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is one of the most common dental diseases and, if not treated in time, can cause severe pain and tooth loss. It can also lead to infections that may require hospitalization and sometimes even amputation. Tooth decay is much more likely to affect children, but everyone should take the necessary steps to prevent it.

The main causes of tooth decay are eating too many sugary foods and not brushing and flossing regularly. This can result in plaque buildup that eventually destroys the tooth’s enamel and dentin layers, exposing the inner pulp of the tooth to infection. Certain health conditions or medications can also cause dry mouth, which reduces saliva flow and makes the teeth more susceptible to decay.

Early tooth decay is usually reversible with a change in diet and better oral hygiene, which can help restore the mineral levels in the enamel. Regular visits to the dentist can also help spot these problems and stop them from progressing into holes that need fillings.

People should brush their teeth thoroughly at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and use an interdental toothbrush or tape to clean between the teeth and where the gums meet. They should also rinse with a mouthwash that contains fluoride to strengthen the teeth and protect against bacteria. It’s also important to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and limit snacks.

If a cavity does develop, the dentist can treat it by using a dental drill to remove the damaged areas of the tooth. The dentist can then apply a filling to repair the hole. People should make sure to follow the dentist’s instructions for taking care of the tooth until it fully heals.

Access to affordable preventive care decreases disparities in oral health that can contribute to poor overall health. It is a crucial component of health care for all.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is a serious condition that affects the health of your teeth and gums. It’s a painful and often silent health issue that can be easily prevented through regular dental appointments and good oral hygiene practices. Gum disease starts with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque that builds up on your teeth and gums. When not removed, it hardens into a solid substance called tartar, which only a dentist can remove during a dental cleaning. Brushing twice a day and flossing daily, as well as using a mouth rinse that contains anti-plaque ingredients, can keep plaque at bay. In addition, regular dental appointments can help your dentist catch early signs of gum disease and start treatment before it becomes severe.

Research has shown a connection between gum disease and several systemic conditions, including heart disease and diabetes. Gum disease can also increase the risk of respiratory infections, such as pneumonia. The key to preventing gum disease is preventive care, which includes two basic exams and two cleanings each year.

During a professional dental cleaning, your dentist will use a periodontal probe to check the depth of your gum pockets. This is important, as deeper pockets are associated with a higher risk of gum disease. If you have a deep pocket, your dentist will recommend gum disease treatment, which may include a root planing and/or gum graft.

While genetics can play a role in your oral health and the development of gum disease, preventing gum disease is largely up to you. You can protect your gums by taking the same steps to avoid tooth decay that you take to protect your heart: Brush twice a day, floss, eat a balanced diet, avoid tobacco and oral cancer-causing substances, and get regular dental exams and cleanings.

Oral Cancer

A dental exam isn’t necessarily the appointment you look forward to most, but it’s one of the most important. Because oral cancer is usually not diagnosed until it’s in the later stages, when it’s easier to treat, early detection is vital. This is why regular checkups include an oral cancer screening.

Cancers of the lip, mouth, tonsils, floor of the mouth, and back of the throat (the pharynx) are highly curable if caught and treated early. However, they are often not detected until after they have reached advanced stages and spread beyond the oral mucosa. This is why it is so important to see your dentist for a comprehensive exam at least twice a year, including an oral cancer screening.

According to the Preventive Services Task Force, several factors determine whether you should be screened for oral cancer, including your age and your family history of oral cancer or other head and neck cancers, as well as your lifestyle habits like tobacco use and alcohol intake. Your personal beliefs and preferences in health care can also play a role in your decision.

Typically, a dentist or hygienist will feel and examine the lips, cheeks, tongue, gums, roof of the mouth, and the back of the throat to look for changes in the tissue that might be caused by oral cancer. They can also use special dyes or shine a light inside the mouth to look for these changes, as well as collect a small sample of the affected area to be tested in a laboratory.

If the results indicate that you are at risk for developing oral cancer, your dentist may refer you to a healthcare professional for further testing. Depending on your results, they might recommend that you begin a screening routine, or they might suggest ways to reduce your risks, such as not smoking or limiting the amount of alcohol you consume.

Dental Hygiene

Dental hygienists are licensed health professionals who specialize in the prevention and treatment of diseases of the mouth and gums. They review an individual’s health history, examine the teeth and supporting structures, and take and process dental X-rays. Hygienists are also trained in applying cavity-preventing solutions, such as fluorides and dental sealants, to the teeth and teaching patients how to properly brush and floss.

Hygienists can also treat gum disease, by deep cleaning the teeth and the roots of the teeth below the gum line to remove bacterial deposits that lead to inflammation and infection (periodontitis). They may apply antibiotic medications directly into pockets formed by advanced periodontitis. They are also qualified to perform scaling and root planing, a special procedure that removes infected surface areas of the tooth and smooths the tooth’s roots to deter further progression of periodontal disease.

Regular preventive care can help reduce or eliminate the need for fillings, crowns, bridges, or dentures, and lower the risk of gum disease, which in turn can decrease the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and low birth weight pregnancy complications. Good oral hygiene habits include brushing your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, replacing your toothbrush three to four times per year or as the bristles become frayed, and limiting sugary foods and drinks. Flossing at least once per day is also recommended, and a hygienist can recommend specialty floss or dental floss threaders to use with braces.

However, even with comprehensive insurance coverage, poor dental hygiene can result in several financial challenges. For example, people without insurance may have to choose between paying for a dental appointment and buying other necessary household items, such as food or clothing. Moreover, those living in rural areas often experience limited access to oral health care, which can result in the painful progression of dental disease costly hospital visits, and lost days at work.

Fortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has refocused attention on social determinants of health (SDoH) and the need to support efforts that address them, including dental hygiene. For example, HHS’ Healthy People 2030 initiative has set measurable 10-year goals and objectives related to health promotion and disease prevention, with several of them focused on oral health and well-being.