Do you ever wish your smile could simply tell you what it needs, to stay healthy or to look beautiful, or both? Life might be a bit easier if only your smile could instruct you precisely how to best care for it. Fortunately, even though your teeth have no voice of their own, your preventive dentist can certainly help speak on their behalf. That is to say, a dentist can help instruct you exactly what you need to do to best care for your smile, so you can enjoy a healthy smile for many years to come.

1. I Need You to Do More Than Just Brush Your Teeth!

You probably already know that you need to brush your teeth, at least twice a day. Unfortunately, if that is where your daily dental care stops, you could soon find yourself struggling with a variety of dental problems, like cavities and gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease.

Flossing is another crucial part of a dental hygiene routine, as it helps remove food particles that get left behind by brushing. Brushing and flossing combined can help limit plaque buildup, but regular professional cleanings are still required to keep the smile healthy. For most patients this means visiting the dentist at least once every six months, for a checkup and thorough cleaning. However, if you are naturally prone to developing cavities, or are currently struggling with gum disease, you may need more frequent visits to keep your smile healthy.

2. Stop Waiting for Things to Get Better.

Another thing teeth would tell you if they could, is that it can be dangerous to wait for dental problems to get better. Teeth are not like many other parts of the body, including the skin. They cannot repair themselves in the same way. That means that if you do develop a cavity or other dental problem, the best way to restore your oral health is through restorative dental treatment.

In the case of a cavity, this could mean a simple dental filling. However the longer a problem persists, the more extensive the necessary restorative treatment may become. This is another reason it’s important to seek dental help at the first sign of trouble, rather than waiting to see if the issue gets better on its own.