Achieving Optimal Oral Health: The Key to a Radiant Smile

Your oral health is more than just the appearance of your teeth. It involves education, treatment, and taking the necessary steps to maintain healthy gums and teeth. From daily brushing to regular checkups and professional cleanings, a comprehensive preventive dentistry plan can help you avoid gum disease, cavities, and other issues that may affect not only your oral health but also your overall well-being. At Smile N Shine Family Dentistry, we emphasize the importance of taking a proactive approach to maintaining optimal oral health.

Enjoying a lifetime of healthy smiles begins with preventive care.

To keep your smile and those of your loved ones in top shape, follow these steps:

• Establish an effective oral hygiene routine at home. Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day with an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste.
• Follow a balanced diet and avoid foods high in sugar or very acidic. Limit sticky sweets, and remember to brush afterward. Swap out sodas and sports drinks for water instead.
• Avoid harmful oral habits like nail biting, chewing on pencils or ice, lip or tongue piercings, and refrain from smoking or using tobacco products. If your child has a habit of finger or thumb sucking, encourage them to break it at home or consult with our dental team for advice and possible intervention before their permanent teeth come in.
• Get regular checkups, professional cleanings, and routine care as recommended by the American Dental Association.

Preventing dental disease and detecting emerging issues early on.

Our top priority is helping patients of all ages achieve optimal oral health. You can count on our office to provide you and your family with the guidance, resources, and care needed to establish a strong foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles. During regular checkup visits, we carefully assess every smile, looking for signs of dental disease or other issues that may impact your oral health and overall well-being. After reviewing each patient's medical and dental history, we will perform an extra and intra-oral exam. We will screen for oral cancer and other suspicious lesions, check occlusion, TMJ function, and more. As needed, we may recommend diagnostic films to detect cavities, periodontal disease, and other oral pathology. With regular checkup visits, we're able to find emerging issues early in their development when they are typically easiest to treat.

As part of a comprehensive preventive care program, professional dental cleanings offer an excellent opportunity to remove any accumulated plaque and tartar that your toothbrush may have missed. Since dental plaque and tartar harbor bacteria that cause dental disease, a professional cleaning helps protect your smile from the damage associated with cavities and gum disease. We will also use this opportunity to provide instruction in the best methods of brushing and flossing and offer nutritional guidance to support a healthy smile. Children can be especially vulnerable to cavities, and we may use these visits to provide periodic fluoride treatments and dental sealants to offer additional protection against tooth decay.

At the office of Smile N Shine Family Dentistry, we offer comprehensive care to support healthy, beautiful smiles! Call today for more information on our services and how we can help you maintain optimal oral health.