Preventive dentistry is the practice of caring for your teeth to keep a healthy mouth. By taking care of your teeth and maintaining good oral health, you can prevent tooth decay, enamel wear and gum disease, the two biggest culprits of tooth loss, as well as dental cavities and bad breath. Preventive dentistry involves many aspects, but oral hygiene and preventive dentistry go hand-in-hand. With your dental team at Dr Liezl Kemp & Associates, we can help prevent the need for multiple dental treatments and restorations - especially fillings and extractions.

What does preventative dentistry involve?

Firstly it is vital that you receive treatment to get your mouth into good condition. Thereafter a ‘maintenance plan' can be made by your dentist to ensure your teeth remain in good condition. This may involve:

• Oral hygiene
  

  Oral hygiene is a big part of ensuring your teeth stay healthy. Daily flossing and brushing with an approved fluoride toothpaste using the correct toothbrush are essential.

  We advise an oscillating electric toothbrush. Using mouthwash in between the times you brush your teeth can also protect your teeth and prevent decay and gum disease.

  Thereafter regular dental cleanings are needed to rid bacteria, plaque and tartar from those very hard to reach areas. These professional dental cleanings are recommended annually.

  At Dr Liezl Kemp and Associates we make use of EMS’ AIRFLOW Prophylaxis Master. It is a high precision dental cleaning machine that will give patients a non-contact form of dental maintenance and prevention with less discomfort. The Airflow Prophylaxis Master allows us to target a controlled stream of air, warm water and very fine sweet powder onto the tooth and in hard-to-reach areas to dislodge and remove food particles, plaque, discolouration and stains.

• Dental check-up
  

  To maintain optimal oral health, you should see your dentist regularly for a check-up, professional cleanings and screening of tooth decay and gum disease.

  Your dentist can also check on any broken or chipped teeth and fillings to ensure that there are no rough edges to make your oral hygiene difficult.

  We suggest seeing your dentist every six months, especially if you are at high risk for dental problems.

  Dietary fluoride supplements may also be recommended by your dentist to prevent decay.

  Our oral hygienist also uses the Florida Probe for pocket depth measurements.

• Diet
  

  What you eat has a large effect on the health of your mouth and the condition of your teeth. Eating a balanced diet helps protect and nourish your teeth.

  To maintain a healthy smile, ensure you are consuming a diet rich in the necessary vitamins. In addition you should limit your sugar intake and drink plenty of water during the day.

  Drinking alcoholic beverages can also lead to decay or erosion of your teeth due to the large amounts of sugar present.

  Remember, smoking can cause tooth staining, tooth loss and make gum disease worse. Smoking and drinking alcohol also increase your risk for developing mouth cancer.

  At Dr Liezl Kemp and Associates we can do a DNA diet and or lifestyle analysis to help us understand the dietary factors that impact your oral health, design the treatment, and guide the maintenance for those with oral decay and periodontal disease. Using the DELTA diet and lifestyle analysis and diagnostics we offer comprehensive tests to provide individualized treatment for each of our patients.