Although your Park Ridge implant dentists are experts at restoring your smile by replacing lost teeth, they advise that prevention is the best method for preserving your smile. In many cases, tooth loss can be avoided with effective dental hygiene and a little diligence on your part. Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas explain how you can get the most out of your hygiene routine and help prevent dental diseases that can lead to tooth loss.
Get the Most Out of Your Hygiene Routine
Brushing and flossing
Hopefully, you already brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, but doing so negligently can actually harm your teeth, rather than protect them. Gently brush every surface of every tooth using a soft-bristled toothbrush with the ADA seal of approval on its package. Also, be sure to floss every day, preferably before bedtime, to remove dental plaque and food bacteria from between every tooth. For added protection, use toothpaste with fluoride, which binds to your tooth enamel to lend it strength.
Dieting
Keeping your teeth strong and healthy doesn’t require a demanding diet. However, refrain from snacking on sugary treats throughout the day. Sugar and other carbohydrates feed oral bacteria that convert them into acid, which attacks your tooth enamel and deprives your teeth of essential minerals. The more often you eat sugar, the more often your teeth are exposed to this acid and the greater chance that you’ll develop tooth decay.
Professional maintenance
Even the best home dental hygiene routine requires regular professional maintenance at your Park Ridge dentist’s office. Every six months or sooner, your dental checkup and cleaning will allow Dr. Loukas to thoroughly clean your teeth and gums of harmful plaque and check for early signs of trouble, such as gum disease.
Protect or Restore Your Smile with Help from Your Park Ridge Implant Dentists
To learn more about protecting your smile, or restoring it after severe disease or tooth loss, schedule an appointment with your Park Ridge implant dentists by calling Loukas General Dentistry at (847) 696-1919. Located in the 60068 area, we proudly serve patients from Park Ridge and the surrounding Chicago communities.