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Every SIX Months? Why Preventive Dentistry is SO Important!

Every SIX Months? Why Preventive Dentistry is SO Important!

Preventive dentistry is by far the best medicine for your oral health. Maintaining great oral health is essential for preventing dental issues from occurring rather than treatment when they arise. The thing is, regular brushing and regular flossing (the proper way...) drastically reduces risk of developing oral disease and necessary restorative treatment. An important thing to remember is that while many people make it a point to brush twice a day, the duration for which they brush is often less than a minute. Most dentists in the bay area, including myself, recommend that a person should brush for at least two minutes.

If a patient see a dentist every six months, most dental problems can be avoided. Therefore, it is important to visit a dentist every six months to detect any problems while they are at a nascent stage. As some of you may know, night guards, especially is you are grinding at night, can prevent damage to your mouth. Think of it like this; just as you ride a bike with a helmet to protect your head, night guards and mouth guards do the same for your teeth. But, the key is to be evaluated first. Then, after that, we monitor symptoms and conditions to give patients a synopsis of their overall oral health.

In some cases, patients may need to see their dentist office for more frequent cleanings than six months. Some may need 3 or 4 month intervals. Mostly, I encourage everyone to have a dialogue with your dentist and ask; "What frequency is important for me to follow"?

Stay Healthy!!!

Dr. E



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