A Stitch in time saves nine?

 This is a simple way of saying that dealing with things early saves a lot of trouble and effort later. I have been practicing for over 45 years and have worn many hats over the years. I have been a general dentist, a cosmetic dentist, a preventive dentist , an Invisilign provider and a dentist expert at prosthodontic restorations. It safe to say there are a lot of tools in my dental tool chest. That being said probably my most important tool is preventive dentistry.

I held a teaching position for two years in the 1980's in the Preventive Dentistry department at Columbia University Dental School. It really made me aware of the importance of preventive measures in preserving dental health.   

Proper daily home care very important to maintaining dental health. I continue to recommend braun oral be rechargeable tooth brushes. I feel they are the best, even the least expensive Vitality model is excellent. They require the least effort to get teeth maximally clean. After that, it is important to regularly use either dental floss or some other device for cleaning between teeth. Regularly brushing and flossing 'effectively' goes a long way towards keeping the mouth healthy.

Diet plays a large role as well. limiting sugar and carbohydrate snacking is quite helpful as well, since it is important to not continuously feed the plaque that is forming on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque love sugar and broken down carbohydrates. 

Frequent check ups and cleaning help, since the teeth always have some residual plaque and having a hygienist remove it every 3 -6 months can be very helpful. Also, a thorough dental exam will find dental problems early and nip them in the bud. Patients of mine who are 'with the program' seem to do much better in general than those who just come in when something is bothering them.

Since dental problems, especially unchecked periodontal disease, can adversely affect our overall health , preventing dental problems may actually help prevent us from developing other health problems as well. 




from Ask Dr. Spindel - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/2025/08/a-stitch-in-time-saves-nine.html - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/

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