Preventive dental care is key to keeping your teeth healthy throughout the course of your life. But it goes beyond that. Good oral health can impact your general health, as well. What is preventive dentistry, what are the benefits, and what kind of dental plan covers you for preventive care?

Preventive dentistry is dental care that helps maintain good oral health. It deals with all prophylactic measurements and services which can be delivered for susceptible patients to avoid the problem before occurrence as well as dealing with oral conditions to be discovered in its primary stages.    It’s a combination of regular dental check-ups along with developing good habits like brushing and flossing. Taking care of your teeth starts early in childhood and extends throughout the course of your life.

Preventive dentistry services may include:

• Regular oral exams, usually every 6 months.
• Diet counseling sessions.
• Prophylactic visits.
• Teeth cleaning
• Routine X-rays

Much of your preventive dental care starts with you. Developing healthy dental habits early in life can help reduce cavities, gum disease, and gingivitis.1 Here are the basics of good oral health:

• Brush your teeth at least 2 times a day—usually morning and night--using a soft bristled brush and a fluoride toothpaste. Your dentist can recommend the best toothbrush and toothpaste for you. They can also instruct you on how to properly brush.
• Floss daily to get food that’s stuck between teeth before it turns to plaque.
• Use a mouthwash to rinse out food particles after flossing.
• Avoid acidic foods that can harm tooth enamel.
• Be cautious with hard foods, like some candies, foods with bones, seeds, or pits that could damage or chip teeth.
• Don’t smoke or use tobacco products--these can lead to cancer and other dental problems.
• Use a mouth guard when participating in certain sports.
• If you grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist for a nighttime mouth guard to help reduce gum recession.