The Dental Care Approach Is Not the Same as Health Care: Preventive vs Restorative Approaches

Many people avoid going to the dentist because of the cost. But maintaining a healthy mouth is proven to save you money. It improves your oral health and your overall health, avoiding costly problems and conditions later on. Not taking care of your smile can lead to tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontitis, which can all contribute to worsening overall health conditions. That’s why maintaining our oral health by using preventive dental care is so important.

We tend to call the doctor when we have an ear infection, bad allergies, or stomach pain. That means we’re waiting for the problem to occur before we address and fix it. Your smile works differently, though. Your dentist’s job is to make sure your mouth is so healthy that problems don’t have the opportunity to arise. If you maintain your smile health, restorative care procedures are less likely to be needed.

Restorative Care vs. Preventive Care

Some individuals may never have the need for restorative dental care because they maintain what’s called “preventive dental care.” Preventive care includes seeing your dentist regularly for a cleaning, brushing twice a day and after meals with fluoridated toothpaste, and flossing daily. Tending to any other oral health concerns like teeth grinding or a dry mouth should also be part of your preventive care routine.

We take preventive measures for our bodies, even if you’re not familiar with the term. We exercise, we buy organic foods, we (should) maintain enough sleep so we can perform at our fullest. Your smile deserves the same care and attention. It benefits from preventive care just like our bodies do.

Where’s the Education Around Preventive Dental Care?

How often do you hear about the dangers of smoking and its impact on your mouth and teeth? Probably not nearly as often as you hear about how smoking impacts overall health. Smoking is responsible for higher rates of cavities and periodontal disease, but also for certain forms of mouth and esophageal cancer.

We’re seeing more research into the connection between our oral and overall health. By utilizing good preventive dental and oral health care, nearly all oral health-related diseases can be prevented.

Good Preventive Dental Care

Good preventive oral healthcare starts with regular visits to the dentist, brushing, and flossing. Still, 1 in 4 Americans has untreated tooth decay, putting the total number at close to 100 million Americans. People with dental benefits are far more likely to see the dentist, and about 77% of the population has dental benefits. According to the National Association of Dental Plans, those without dental insurance are:

• 67% more likely to have heart disease
• 50% more likely to have osteoporosis
• 29% more likely to have diabetes

To learn more about our dental plans and getting more proactive with your preventative dental care, CLICK HERE.