Preventative Care/ Hygiene in Manhattan, KS

When was the last time you visited a dentist? Be honest with yourself. Has it been more than six months? One year? Several years? Even if you haven’t dealt with gum disease or cavities in the past, it’s still important that you are turning to our Manhattan, KS, dentists every six months for cleanings. Preventive dentistry is the very best way to maintain a healthy smile, both now and in the future.

What is Involved in Preventive Care?

Want to know what truly goes into preventive dental care? Here are the ways to prevent oral disease and maintain a healthy smile,

• Routine professional cleanings and checkups
• Patient education
• At-home oral care
• Healthy diet
• Oral cancer screenings
• Sealants
• Mouthguards (for playing sports)
• Nightguards (if you grind or clench your teeth)

The Importance of Preventive Care

As you may already imagine, it’s much easier to maintain a healthy smile than it is to fix it once a problem occurs. Plus, preventive dentistry saves you time, money, and stress. Our goal as your dental team is to make sure that you get the care you need to keep your teeth, gums, and jawbone healthy.

Maintain Routine Checkups with our Dental Team

One of the best things you can do for your smile is to visit your dentist every six months for cleanings. These cleanings ensure that plaque and tartar won't build up on teeth and along the gums, causing cavities and gum disease. Plus, if we do detect a problem we are more likely to catch it during the earliest stages when it’s so much easier to treat.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Of course, how you care for your smile between six-month cleanings is just as important. This means brushing twice a day and flossing daily to reduce plaque buildup. If you are particularly prone to developing cavities or are at high risk for gum disease, then you may need to use a medicated rinse and visit your dentist more regularly for cleanings and checkups. This is something we would be happy to discuss with you during your next visit.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Your diet also plays an important role in healthy teeth and gums. Staying away from sugar is one of the best things you can do to protect your teeth from cavities. This means limiting sodas, desserts, candies, sports drinks, and most fruit juices. Make sure you are eating a healthy, balanced, and varied diet that is rich in whole grains, lean protein, and veggies.

Other Preventive Care Measures You Can Take for a Healthy Smile

There are also other preventive measures you can take to safeguard your smile from damage or decay. Sealants are designed to seal the chewing surfaces of the molars to prevent bacteria and food from getting trapped in the nooks and crannies. Mouthguards are also incredibly important and crucial if you play contact sports. If you are a jaw clencher or teeth grinder, you are prone to excessive wear and tear and even fractures in your teeth. In this case, it’s important to wear a nightguard while you sleep.

Dental Associates of Manhattan is made up of a team of holistic dentists dedicated to preventing oral diseases rather than simply treating them. We provide you with the top preventive dentistry your whole family is looking for. To schedule an appointment, call us at (785) 539-7401.