At Dupont Family Dentistry, we believe prevention is the best medicine. We would much rather educate our patients early on about how to maintain optimum oral health and have them come in for routine cleanings and exams twice a year than have to treat advanced gum disease or replace a tooth damaged by years of decay.
What You Can Do
The first step in preventive dentistry begins with your lifestyle. Making healthy choices today can prevent future complications down the road. Knowing the potential risk factors for oral health problems is half the battle, avoiding them is the other. These are things you can do at home today to form healthy habits that will minimize your risk for oral health problems in the future:
- Avoid tobacco products
- Avoid sugary foods
- Avoid acidic foods
- Wear a protective mouth guard during sporting activities
- Brush & floss twice per day (after breakfast & before bed)
- Rinse with water after meals (or chew gum containing xylitol)
- Come see Dr. Diehl, Dr. Feasel, and Dr. Ghori twice a year for cleanings and checkups
What We Can Do
At your twice-annual checkup appointment, we always make sure our patients are educated about their oral health. This includes the tips above, as well as proper instructions for brushing and flossing, and providing you with the tools to do so. One of our friendly hygienists will then take a look, and give your mouth a good deep clean.
Your Fort Wayne dentists, Dr. Diehl, Dr. Feasel, and Dr. Ghori will then perform a thorough examination, looking for signs of oral problems or changes like tooth decay, gum disease, state of existing restorations, and changes in the bone and soft tissues that could be potential signs of oral cancer. Your dentist is the only one who will notice these minor changes in your mouth – it’s up to you to come to see us for regular checkups.
Oral Hygiene
Twice each year at your checkup appointments, Dupont Family Dentistry takes great care to educate our patients about their oral health—going over the recommendations above, instructing in the most effective brushing and flossing techniques, and providing you with the tools to do so in your everyday routine. One of our friendly hygienists will then take a look and give your mouth a deep professional cleaning.
After your cleaning, Dr. Diehl or Dr. Feasel will perform a thorough examination of your mouth, looking for oral issues like tooth decay, gum disease, state of existing restorations, and changes in the bone and soft tissues that could be potential signs of oral cancer. Your Fort Wayne dentists are the only ones who will notice these minor changes in your mouth—because we know what to look for! It’s up to you to keep your regular checkups and hygiene appointments so we can help keep your mouth healthy.
The Oral-Systemic Link
A healthy mouth and a healthy body are inextricably linked. Diligent oral hygiene and regularly scheduled professional checkups and cleanings remain the all-important foundation for favorable oral health. Left untreated, gum disease can not only lead to tooth loss, but can significantly increase your risk for more than 50 systemic diseases like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer is on the rise worldwide, so oral cancer screening is a standard feature of every regularly scheduled checkup with us. Because we regularly examine your mouth twice each year, Dr. Diehl, Dr. Feasel, and Dr. Ghori feel one of our most essential functions is to screen for oral cancer—we want to give you the best possible chance to recover and survive should you test positive.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealant is a tooth decay and cavity prevention measure that can benefit dental patients of all ages. The sealant is a thin plastic coating painted on the biting and chewing surfaces, most commonly in the molars and premolars in the back of the mouth. The sealant bonds into the pits and grooves of each tooth, sealing decay away from the enamel.
We want to be your partner in preventing oral disease. Call us today at (260) 489-1100, or schedule your next appointment online.
