Preventative Dentistry Services in Samford

Preventive Dentistry is the practice of caring for your teeth to keep them healthy. This helps to avoid cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, and more. There are many forms of preventive dentistry, from basic means such as daily brushing and flossing, to dietary advice, Mouth Guards and Occlusal Protective Splints.

We only have one set of teeth, so it is so important we look after them the best we possibly can. 

Oral Hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to help prevent dental problems, most commonly, dental cavities, gingivitis, periodontal (gum) diseases and bad breath.

Plaque is a sticky, clear film of bacteria that is found around the teeth and gums. If not removed through daily brushing and flossing it can cause the inflammation of your gums, which is known as gingivitis. When left untreated, gingivitis can proceed to gum disease and in extreme cases degenerative bone loss, which may require long-term treatment to rectify.

This is why Dr Golbarani and team always highly recommend brushing twice a day (morning and night) with a soft bristled toothbrush and have a daily flossing routine.

If your diet does not contain the correct nutrients it requires, your body’s ability to fight off infection is compromised. Poor nutrition levels can worsen the condition of your gums, therefore allowing serious concerns such as periodontal disease to thrive. Foods high in sugar and starch also play a major role in the development of tooth decay. When you eat or drink, plaque acid is produced which can attack the teeth.

Interestingly, it is not the amount of sugar and starch you eat, it is the frequency. For instance, if you continually snack and sip sweetened drinks throughout the day, you will expose your teeth and gums to decay causing acid for prolonged periods.

If you feel like a snack, you should try tooth friendly foods including nuts, raw vegetables such as carrot and celery sticks, cheese, fresh fruit and unsweetened tea. Chewing sugar-free gum will stimulate saliva production after eating and help neutralise acid more rapidly.

Fissure sealants are hard protective coatings that are applied in order to cover and protect the deep grooves (fissures) in our teeth and help prevent dental decay. These fissures are most commonly located at the chewing surfaces on back teeth (molars and premolars).

The bacteria in plaque live in these grooves and make acid which causes tooth decay. Dental sealants assist in preventing the build up of plaque acids on the enamel surface of teeth and they are of value in the prevention of tooth decay.

This procedure is often performed on young children but can be performed as a preventative measure for adults as well.