Preventative Dentistry

Taking steps to look after your oral health before problems occur is preventative dentistry.

It is central to our practice at Maida Vale Dental. It means a happier, healthier mouth and fewer visits to the dentist.

The two main causes of tooth loss are gum disease and dental decay and we believe the way to avoid and deter both is to work together with our patients to prevent problems occurring and reduce the need for fillings and extractions.

What steps can I take?

Everyone can benefit from preventative dentistry and gum disease or decay is less likely to occur in a mouth that is kept healthy by routine cleaning and flossing and regular check-ups. Eating and drinking the right foods to support oral health and stopping smoking or other habits that impact on your oral health will help create healthier teeth and gums.

How will stopping smoking help?

There are many studies with findings that establish smoking and tobacco products will harm your teeth and gums. Smokers are more susceptible to infections such as gum and periodontal disease and smoking impacts on the health of gum tissue. Smoking is also the main cause of mouth cancer. Cutting down and stopping smoking will soon bring benefits to your oral health.

How does fluoride protect teeth?

Fluoride toothpaste creates a protective coating on the tooth surface. It reduces the amount of acid formed by plaque build-up which causes a loss of minerals from the tooth and eventually tooth decay. It also remineralizes teeth as it helps create an enamel surface that is more resistant to decay.

Why is gum health important?

When left untreated, gum disease can develop into a more serious condition, periodontitis, which can result in tooth loss.

Regular hygiene checks are part of preventative dentistry. If needed, we can help you develop a plan to support your gum health and offer treatments such as a scale and polish or Airflow tooth polishing to help create optimum gum health to support your teeth.

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