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Is your smile ready for the New Year? With proper preventative care, you can ensure that your smile will be glowing into the New Year. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, approximately 96 percent of patients surveyed believe that an attractive smile makes a person more appealing. Your mouth is the gateway to your body, which means that the state of your mouth directly affects your overall health. Preventative dentistry emphasizes the importance of ongoing oral hygiene procedures and daily practices to prevent tooth decay and other dental diseases and conditions that could potentially lead to general health complications. By keeping routine dental visits and cleanings, along with oral hygiene at home, you can ensure a healthy smile for longer. Keep Up-to-Date with Routine Dental Visits and Cleanings Maintaining regular dental exams is the key to keeping your teeth away from oral diseases and treats the ones that already exist. The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) recommends that a professional dental cleaning at least twice a year can help to improve your oral health. At your dental cleaning, diagnostic services may include:
* Reviewing and updating medical history
* Oral cancer examination and screening
* Evaluation of gum tissue
* Checking biting, chewing and swallowing patterns
* X-rays, examination of teeth to detect decay
* Treatment planning
* Referral to specialists for specific treatment Comprehensive examinations are performed to determine any changes in dental and health status since their previous visit. A comprehensive exam also lays the foundation for the routine check and is much more than just a cleaning. While at your checkup, preventive services may also include removal of plaque and tartar, stain removal, fluoride application, sealants and polishing of fillings or crowns. Your Fenton dentist will provide you with proper tooth brushing and flossing instructions, as well as an array of other helpful information for maintaining a healthy smile.
Maintain Oral Hygiene at Home A key part to maintaining proper oral hygiene are the prevention technique of brushing and flossing at least twice a day to remove dental plaque, a film-like coating that forms on your teeth. If plaque is not removed, it can build up and produce dental tartar, a hardened, sticky substance with acid-producing bacteria that cause tooth decay and lead to gum disease. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is arguably the most essential component to the maintenance of good oral health. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day for approximately two minutes, preferably after eating. The foods that we often eat contain sugars and starches. When plaque combines with these sugars and starches, an acid is produced that attacks tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. Brushing your teeth removes plaque from the tooth surfaces while flossing removes plaque from in between the teeth. Additionally, flossing in between your teeth is an essential part of the oral hygiene practice for avoiding gum disease and preventing tooth decay. Many people do not realize the importance of flossing and often forego the hygienic practice, believing that tooth brushing is an adequate enough practice for removing plaque. Tooth decay is a serious oral health concern that is caused by a buildup of plaque. Flossing is not hard, does not take much time and should be performed daily to eliminate plaque. Make an appointment with your dentist in Fenton, MO every six months to maintain proper oral health care, in addition to daily brushing and flossing. Your dentist will be able to put together an appropriate dental hygiene plan to help keep you smiling longer.
Leading dentist in Fenton, Dr. Thomas Kemlage, was nominated in January 2011 in the St. Louis Magazine as Top Dentist in area, as voted by his peers. Dr. Kemlage, Fenton dentist, offers an array of services, including teeth whitening, crowns, bridges and dentures.
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