Preventive Care
What is Preventive Dentistry?
Preventive dentistry focuses on caring for your teeth and gums to keep them healthy for life. It helps prevent cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, bad breath, and other dental problems before they develop.
It includes simple daily home-care habits such as:
- Brushing and flossing
- Using mouth rinses
- Eating a healthy diet
- Visiting your dentist every 6 months
- Consistent preventive care helps maintain long-term oral health and avoid costly treatments in the future.
Who Benefits From Preventive Treatment?
Everyone benefits from preventive dentistry:
- Children benefit as their developing teeth erupt stronger and healthier.
- Adults and seniors benefit because preventive care helps preserve natural teeth for longer.
- Overall health improves, since the mouth is a major entry point for bacteria affecting the whole body.
- Maintaining a clean and healthy mouth supports better general well-being.
Home Care
The most effective preventive method is brushing and flossing at least twice a day (ideally after meals). This helps remove dental plaque—a soft, white film that forms on teeth.
If plaque is not removed, it hardens into tartar (calculus). This sticky, bacteria-filled deposit produces acids that cause tooth decay and lead to gum disease.
Consistent home care is your first line of defense against dental problems.
Fluoride Application
Fluoride helps strengthen teeth and prevent cavities by making the tooth surface more resistant to acid attacks. It also promotes remineralization, repairing early decay before a cavity forms.
Professional fluoride treatments may include:
- Foams
- Gels
- Varnishes
These are applied by a dentist—usually during a cleaning appointment—and left on the teeth for a few minutes.For patients at high risk of cavities, dentists may prescribe special fluoride gels or toothpaste for home use.
Plaque Disclosing Tablets
Dental plaque is nearly invisible. Plaque disclosing tablets contain a safe, non-toxic vegetable dye (erythrosine) that highlights plaque areas, making them easy to see.
These tablets are useful for:
- Dental professionals teaching children proper brushing
- Home use for kids developing good brushing habits
- Visual proof of areas missed during brushing or flossing
- They are especially effective for young patients learning to maintain oral hygiene.