12606 A Lake Ridge Drive

Woodbridge, VA 22192

(703) 491-2131

What is Preventive Care?

What is Preventive Care?

Are you maintaining a healthy oral regimen? Do you want to learn more about how to take better care of your teeth? Well, have you thought of the importance of preventative care? Preventative care is a crucial part of having healthy teeth. Dr. Charles Sours of Woodbridge, VA, provides his patients with the preventative care they need.

Here are a few preventative care options:

  • Professional Dental Cleaning: This is when your dentist removes plaque and tartar to protect teeth from serious illnesses, like gum disease. Plaque is accumulated food debris and acid-producing bacteria that when left for too long, it calcifies on tooth surfaces and can't be removed through proper brushing and flossing. Professional dental cleanings is when a hygienist uses a specialized vibrating tool that removes tartar.
  • Brushing and Flossing: It's extremely important to maintain a healthy oral regimen. Brushing and flossing on a daily basis eliminates plaque buildup. When you brush, make sure you hold a soft-bristled toothbrush at a 40-degree angle and brush in a circular motion on tooth surfaces and near gum edges to properly clean teeth. Do this, at the very least, twice a day. Flossing, on the other hand, can be done at least once before bed and you should also make sure you remove food debris from between teeth and under gums.
  • Sealants: This is a very helpful preventative measure, especially for children. This is a white fluid that actually fills dental fissures, holes, and cavities in teeth. Your Woodbridge dentist first eliminates any decay then uses the sealant to protect teeth from decay spreading and/or becoming deeper, which may result in patients needing root canal therapy or dental implants. Sealants block bacteria from entering these cavities, making it a great preventative tool.

If you have any questions about preventative care, make sure you contact your Woodbridge, VA, dentist for more details by calling Dr. Charles Sours at (703) 491-2131 today!