Preventive/family dentistry is one of the most important aspects of dental care. If you practice good dental hygiene, then you may be able to save yourself a lot of time, trouble, and money by preventing issues such as cavities and gingivitis. Your mouth is always under attack from oral bacteria that can cause these problems, but maintaining your oral health can counter the bacteria. Unfortunately, once a problem does take hold, your dentist typically has to become involved to stop it. The function of restorative dentistry is to fix your oral health issues before they can cause serious damage to your health.
What Actually Causes Dental Problems?
Many dental problems are caused by oral bacteria, which produce acid. This acid attacks your enamel, the first layer of your teeth. Eating, especially foods with an excessive amount of sugar in them, creates more acid to attack your teeth. The bacteria also helps form the sticky substance known as plaque, which coats your teeth and sticks there, increasing your teeth’s exposure to the bacterial acid. You can remove a lot of the plaque by brushing your teeth, but you will inevitably miss some of it. The leftover plaque will calcify into tartar, which can only be removed by a dentist. Practicing preventive techniques, such as going to the dentist, can help protect your teeth from harmful bacteria.
However, sometimes the acid can wear a hole in your enamel and thus create a cavity. This is a literal infection, which will continue to burrow into your tooth until it reaches the inner layer. In addition, sometimes your teeth may be harmed by trauma, such as a hard hit that causes a crack or causes a tooth to be lost. Cracks can open a pathway for bacteria to reach the interior of your tooth faster, and the gap left from a missing tooth can become a home for bacteria, potentially leading to a cavity or gum disease. If one of your teeth becomes damaged, if you lose one, or if you begin to experience toothaches or sensitivity, schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible. Our restorative treatments can save your teeth, stop the spread of decay, and fill a missing gap in your smile in order to help prevent further dental problems.
ABOUT YOUR SOUTHLAKE FAMILY DENTISTS:
As a native Texan, Gregory Wright, DDS, opened his private practice in Southlake, TX in 1992. He and Dr. Victoria Heron are happily accepting new patients from Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities. To learn more, call our office today at (817) 481-7999.
