San Mateo Dental Care offers tips and best practices for healthy smile

The American Dental Association recommends that people should visit the dentist every six months to maintain a healthy smile. There is also an abundance of published studies that show a link between dental health and overall wellness. To elaborate, taking care of your teeth is a vital part of taking care of your entire body. There are many non-oral conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, and vitamin deficiencies that all have ties to diseases of the mouth. At San Mateo Dental Care, we encourage all of our patients to visit us regularly as a way to stay healthy.

The importance of regular visits

Taking x-ray images and visually checking for tooth decay and are two of the main components of regular dental visits. In addition, either one of our dentists or hygienists will evaluate your entire mouth, including checking your gums for early signs of gum disease. When found early, the symptoms of gum disease can often be reversed. Once gum disease has advanced, the treatment becomes more invasive and the condition becomes harder to control.

We will evaluate your mouth for any early symptoms of diabetes or oral cancers, and can also take a look at the movement of your jaw to check for signs of TMD/TMJ disorder.

The professional cleaning

After the full exam, we will perform a thorough professional cleaning. This allows us to remove plaque that brushing alone does not always remove. When plaque and tartar are allowed to continually build up on the teeth, they can cause decay or gum disease, and could eventually require tooth extraction and the need for extensive restorations. We will also floss your teeth and provide you with instructions for proper at home care of your teeth in between appointments.

Staying healthy with at-home oral hygiene

At home, patients should continue to maintain good oral hygiene. This includes:

• Brushing at least twice daily
• Flossing at least once each day
• We recommend that patients use a toothpaste that contains fluoride
• Using an antibacterial mouth wash can be effective at removing plaque

To schedule your routine exam at our San Mateo, CA office, please call us at (650) 344-7500.