Preventive Dentistry Aptos
Preventive dentistry is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.
Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.
Prevention also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Sealants and fluoride are also great preventive treatments that help protect the teeth.
Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.
Dental Health Education & Prevention
As a practice, we are true believers that preventive dental care and education are the keys to optimal dental health. We strive to provide “dental health care” vs. “disease care”. That’s why we focus on thorough exams – checking the overall dental health of your teeth and gums, performing oral cancer exams, and taking x-rays when necessary. We also know that routine teeth cleaning, flossing, sealants, and fluoride are all helpful in preventing dental disease. Not only are we focused on the beauty of your smile, we’re also concerned about your health. A review of your medical history can help us stay informed of your overall health, any new medications, and any illnesses that may impact your dental health.
“I strive to help provide a sustainable solution for people that honors them where they are in life, while giving them access to more.” Dr. Allyson Drew
Dental Health, Inflammation and It’s Effect on Your Whole Body
“You can’t dry yourself off when you are still in the shower” – author unknown
Bleeding gums and cavities are caused by oral bacteria that enter the bloodstream and can harm vital organs.
If your gums bleed when you brush and floss, you are showering your body with bad bacteria and can aggravate chronic diseases: heart disease, diabetes, stroke, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and even pregnancy complications.
If you are someone with an autoimmune disease, having good oral hygiene is important for your healing process.
Chronic low-grade infections in the mouth elevates systemic inflammation and has an impact on all body systems.
The significance of these mouth-body and oral-systemic connections highlight the importance of preventing and treating oral disease which has mounting and profound medical impacts on “whole body” health.
Dr. Allyson Drew and Dr. Jason Drew are proud members of the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health, AAOSH.
Drs Drew pay special attention to emerging science, technologies and procedures which reduce health risk factors and assure better health for their patients.
AAOSH members include physicians, dentists, nurses, chiropractors, dental hygienists, and other health professionals, researchers and educators. It provides educational opportunities that help dentists practice with the best clinical judgment and clinical skills possible. This promotes excellent care for patients and encourages proper inter-disciplinary care when necessary.
A Gentle & Positive Dental Experience
Building a foundation of trust by treating our Aptos and Santa Cruz area patients as individuals is vital to our success. We strive to provide a relaxing, positive and gentle dental experience for all our patients. Drs. Jason and Allyson Drew and their entire dental team are dedicated to providing you with excellent, personalized care and service to make your visits to our Aptos dental office as comfortable and pleasant as possible.
Three Prevention Principles:
1. Eat every 2 to 3 hours. Not every 20 minutes.
2. Eat “tooth friendly” foods. Use the analogy: fresh fruit is better than dried fruit for teeth. Fresh bread is better than dried bread (crackers) for teeth. Crackers are incredibly sticky but nobody knows it until it’s too late. Eat toast instead.
3. If you focus on diet, then brushing can be for bacteria, not for food. There is nothing to brush after eating an apple!
Important Prevention Tips:
• Always try to have a sip of water after every meal or snack
• Have 4 to 6 organized mini meals a day with only water in between
• Disorganize eating or drinking will cause cavities even with healthy foods
• Only have water after the nighttime brushing • Fluoride application at your dentist every six months can also help reduce cavities by 20 to 30%
• Get vitamin D!
• If you have a child, help brush their teeth daily until they are six or seven years old. Brush for 20 seconds since you are focusing on tooth friendly diet now.
•Floss teeth if they are touching for additional protection.
•Schedule an infant screening exam with your dentist at age one or first tooth, whichever comes first. Never leave a bottle in bed with baby (unless it’s water)
•Saliva is the natural cleaner of the mouth. Saliva Flow slows down at night so brushing and flossing at night time is very important.
The most important variables that determine whether a snack food is going to cause cavities or not are:
1) Containing carbohydrates (flour is the worst)
2) How long the food stays stuck on the teeth (stickiness of the food)
3) How fast the food is usually consumed.
Let’s compare fresh fruit to dried fruit:
An apple
1) Contains carbohydrates
2) Doesn’t stay on the teeth for long because it is crunchy
3) Usually is eaten within 5 minutes
So, a fresh apple is on the “good list” for teeth, even though it contains sugar. Just don’t nibble on it 8 times a day, and your teeth will be fine.
A freeze-dried apple
1) Contains carbohydrates
2) Stays on the teeth for too long
3) Can be carried around for 30 minutes
So, dried fruit is worse for your teeth because it is stickier and will stick to the teeth for a longer period of time and you can carry it around and snack in it for 20 minutes or longer.