Good preventative care is essential for healthy teeth and gums. Aside from seeing your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings, there are some things you can do in addition to ensure your mouth remains healthy. The following are some things you need to know about preventative dental care:

How to Improve Your Oral Health Through Preventative Dental Care at Home

To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you need to do some preventative dental care at home as part of your daily routine. You should brush twice daily at minimum and floss once per day. If you play sports or do other recreational activities in which your mouth or teeth could be damaged, you should wear a mouth guard to avoid injuries and tooth damage. You should also wear a mouth guard if you grind your teeth or clench your jaw while you sleep. If you smoke or chew tobacco, try to quit, as these activities can cause serious damage to your teeth and gums.

In addition, aim to eat a balanced diet. Try to avoid sugary foods and drinks, as well as foods and snacks that are high in carbohydrates. You should consume a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables to make sure you are getting proper vitamin intake. Drinking plenty of water is also important to your oral health.

Why Preventative Dentistry Is Beneficial

Preventative dentistry simply means going to the dentist regularly for cleanings, x-rays, and checkups. Going to the dentist helps prevent several dental problems later, including cavities, gum disease, gum recession, sensitive teeth, loss of teeth, and other oral health problems.

Preventative dental care is especially important in childhood. Taking care of a child's teeth early in life will help prevent oral health issues later in life.

Preventative Dental Care and Insurance

If you have dental insurance, preventative dental care is typically covered. This will vary from plan to plan, but cleanings and x-rays are often covered completely or partially. Even if you have to pay a deductible or co-pay, the cost is much less expensive than invasive dental work later on.

Most dental plans will cover regular oral evaluations. This includes cleanings and x-rays. If you want fluoride treatments, these are often covered under most dental plans. This may be covered for children only in some plans. Dental sealants may be covered under dental plans as well. If you have questions about your dental coverage, contact your insurance provider or your dental practice to find out exactly what is covered on your plan.