Req 2b — Dental Health
2b.
Explain why it is important to have a routine dental examination. Explain what preventive or corrective treatments your dentist can provide, and why daily oral care is an important part of staying well. Tell your counselor when you last underwent a dental examination.
Your mouth is the gateway to your body, and dental health is far more connected to your overall fitness than most people realize. A routine dental exam is not just about avoiding cavities — it is about protecting your whole-body health.
Why Dental Exams Matter
Dentists recommend a checkup every six months. During these visits, your dentist does much more than just look for holes in your teeth:
- Early detection: Cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancers are easiest to treat when caught early. By the time a tooth hurts, the problem has usually been developing for months.
- Professional cleaning: Even if you brush and floss perfectly (and most people don’t), tartar — hardened plaque — can only be removed by a dental professional. Left in place, tartar irritates your gums and leads to gum disease.
- Bite and alignment check: Your dentist monitors how your teeth fit together and whether your jaw is developing properly. Catching alignment issues early can prevent bigger problems later.
- X-rays: Dental X-rays reveal problems hidden beneath the surface — cavities between teeth, impacted wisdom teeth, bone loss, and infections at the root of a tooth.
Preventive Treatments Your Dentist Can Provide
Prevention is always better (and cheaper) than repair. Your dentist has several tools to help keep your teeth healthy before problems start:
- Fluoride treatments: Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and makes it more resistant to acid attacks from bacteria. Your dentist may apply a concentrated fluoride varnish or gel during your visit.
- Dental sealants: A thin, protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth (molars). Sealants fill in the tiny grooves where food and bacteria love to hide, reducing your cavity risk significantly.
- Custom mouthguards: If you play sports, your dentist can create a custom-fitted mouthguard that protects your teeth far better than a store-bought one. A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency that is entirely preventable.
- Orthodontic referrals: If your teeth are crowded or misaligned, your dentist may refer you to an orthodontist for braces or other treatments.
Corrective Treatments
When prevention is not enough, your dentist can fix problems:
- Fillings: Repair cavities by removing decayed material and filling the space with a durable material.
- Crowns: Cover and protect a damaged or weakened tooth.
- Root canals: Save a tooth that has become infected deep inside by removing the infected tissue and sealing the tooth.
- Extractions: Remove a tooth that is too damaged to save or a wisdom tooth that is causing problems.
Daily Oral Care — Your Most Important Tool
Your dentist can only see you a few times a year. What you do every day at home is what really determines your dental health.
Daily Oral Care Routine
Your teeth will thank you
- Brush twice a day: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brush for at least two minutes — most people rush through it in under a minute.
- Floss once a day: Flossing removes food and plaque from between your teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach. If you skip flossing, you are missing about 40% of your tooth surfaces.
- Limit sugary foods and drinks: Sugar feeds the bacteria that produce acid, and acid causes cavities. Water is always the best choice for hydration.
- Replace your toothbrush: Get a new toothbrush (or brush head) every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed.
- Wear a mouthguard for sports: Protect your teeth during any activity where a hit to the face is possible.