Improve Your Smile and Save Some Money with Preventative Dental Care
At our family dentistry in Gresham, Dr. Archibald and the rest of his team work hard to provide our patients with the outstanding dental care they need to enjoy a healthy, great looking smile for a lifetime.
If you haven’t visited our Gresham dental office or have filed multiple tax returns since scheduling your last dental appointment, you risk undermining the foundation of your oral health.
Dr. Archibald understands that the thought of visiting the dentist causes some people to feel a little stressed out or anxious. Unfortunately, by not receiving the preventative dental care needed to reduce the risk of dental decay and disease, your chances of enjoying a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums becomes greatly diminished.
So you better understand how cleanings and exams help to protect your oral health, let’s take a look why everyone needs to receive preventative dental care.
The Battle Against Plaque Buildup
Our mouths contain millions – occasionally billions, depending on how long since you last brushed – of different types of bacteria. While some types of bacteria work to maintain a healthy mouth, other types can create a hostile microbiome that damages our long-term oral health.
The primary culprit is plaque, a sticky biofilm comprised of harmful oral bacteria and food particles that linger in the mouth after eating. Plaque sticks to the surface of our teeth and uses the sugars we consume to produce harmful acids that slowly attack the outer layer – called enamel – of our teeth.
Over time, the damage done by plaque causes holes to develop in the surface of our teeth. Once these holes get large enough they become cavities that require a dental filling to repair.
The acids secreted by plaque also irritate gum tissue, which leads to the development of gum inflammation. When gum tissue becomes inflamed it begins to swell, bleed easily and feel tender to the touch. These symptoms are more commonly known as gingivitis, or early stage gum disease.
Plaque never takes time off, and continuously builds up on the surface of our teeth. This is why brushing is such an important habit.
In addition to removing food particles stuck to our teeth, brushing helps to remove plaque deposits from the surface of our teeth and along the gum line. Failing to brush and floss daily allow plaque to build up and harden into yellowish deposits called tartar. Once plaque hardens into tartar, it can only be removed from our teeth during a professional cleaning.
The Importance of Preventative Dental Care
By receiving regular preventative dental care at our family dentistry in Gresham, you can significantly reduce the risk for developing the types of common oral health problems that lead to long-term complications down the road.
During your first visit to see Dr. Archibald, you’ll undergo a full series of x-rays to accurately determine the current state of your oral health. After reviewing your x-rays and relevant health history and completing a thorough evaluation of your teeth and gums, Dr. Archibald will create a custom oral health plan that will address your current and future needs.
Once Dr. Archibald has finished assessing your oral health, our team of gentle dental hygienists move in to complete your oral cleaning. During your cleaning, our hygienists will remove any plaque deposits from the surface of your teeth. They will also assess your current gum health, and provide you with tips on the best ways to both brush and floss.
After plaque deposits have been removed, inflammation to your gum tissue will also begin to subside. When combined with improved brushing and flossing habits, you can successfully reverse any damage done by gingivitis to restore your gums back to health.
With early preventative care, you can avoid the need for costly procedures like fillings, root canals and dental implants that result due to the damage done by tooth decay and gum disease. Not only does preventative dental care help to improve your oral health, it also offers incredible costs savings when compared to the more expensive treatments needed to repair the damage done by plaque.
So if you want to enjoy a great looking smile while also saving some money, make sure to schedule your next dental appointment at our family dentistry in Gresham today!