4 Ways To Prevent Oral Health Problems

Oral health problems are common. Almost 100% of all adults get at least one cavity in their lifetime, and 15-20% of people ages 35-44 develop gum disease. But what if you could avoid oral health issues altogether?

Our recommended guidance for oral hygiene practices can give your teeth and gums a strong, healthy future. At 2K Dental in Parma, Cleveland, and Akron, Ohio, our team of dental professionals offers the highest level of expertise in preventive care for our patients.

To prevent oral health issues, let’s first look at what can cause them.

Causes of oral health problems

Oral health issues can start to show up when you develop acid-producing bacteria that can eat away at your tooth enamel and give you cavities. In addition, plaque buildup next to your gum line can cause gum disease, and if your gums become infected or collect pus, your condition can advance to periodontitis. These issues can lead to tooth loss and also be linked to overall health problems.

Here are some factors that can contribute to oral health issues:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Smoking
• Eating and drinking too much sugar
• Medications that reduce healthy saliva in your mouth
• Hormonal changes
• Acid reflux
• Diabetes
• Family history

Although you can’t control every condition that leads to poor oral health, you can exercise healthy practices to ward off developing issues.

Ways to prevent oral health problems

Our team takes pride in developing a relationship with you. We like to think of you as family and want to care for and monitor the health of your mouth throughout your life on a yearly basis. That’s why three out of four of our recommendations include practices that happen in our office.

They include:

1. Routine oral exams

Scheduled routine exams with our team allow us to foresee the development of any problems, which can help prevent any further damage due to catching it early. 

When you come in to see us, we examine your mouth thoroughly and take images of your teeth and gums to get a proper diagnosis.

We also remove any plaque from your teeth and professionally clean them.

2. Fluoride treatments

Our team applies fluoride to your teeth to protect them from future decay. This application increases the longevity of your good oral health.

3. Sealants

When treating your child, we use sealants to protect the health of their teeth. This protective material goes in the grooves of their teeth to help them avoid decay. We can also use this method of treatment on adults.

4. Proper brushing and flossing daily

To keep your mouth healthy, you need to exercise good oral hygiene habits at home.

To chase away unwanted bacteria from your teeth and gums, brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You also need to floss at least once a day to tackle the plaque buildup that can develop around your gum line.

As you continue to practice healthy habits at home and keep your appointments with our team every year, you decrease your chances of developing oral health problems. 

To schedule a checkup with our team and learn more about how to use proper oral care, call the 2K Dental office nearest you today.