Your Oral Health
When you hear the phrase “oral health,” what does it mean to you? Not having any cavities when you go in for your next dental checkup? This is certainly one element of oral health, but it has to do with much more than tooth decay. Oral health is the practice of establishing conscientious personal hygienic care through cleaning your teeth and gums with a complete home regime and professional assistance.
While integrating brushing and flossing into your daily routine helps promote healthy teeth, it is no substitute for a professional cleaning from a hygienist. These professionals use various tools to help remove any traces of plaque and bacteria on your teeth and gums.
What You Need To Know About Oral Health
Your dental health and the quality of your smile both have a considerable impact on your well-being. In addition, a bright, welcoming smile can significantly increase your self-confidence and make a positive impression on others.
The health of your teeth and gums also affects other components of your physical health. For example, researchers continually link good oral health to a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening conditions.
The most important parts of maintaining your dental health are being conscientious, having good oral hygiene, and regular maintenance visits with Dr. Yurovsky and her team.
Brushing and Flossing Are Essential For Maintaining Healthy Teeth.
Brushing and flossing remove food particles and prevent the buildup of bacteria on and around your natural teeth. Over time, this bacteria would otherwise accumulate, and it would harden into a thick dental plaque, eventually causing tooth decay and bone loss below the gum line.
Some tips for maintaining your good oral health are:
- Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, ideally after each meal.
- Floss at least once a day.
- Limit snacking between meals and minimize the amount of processed sugars you consume.
Regular Office Visits
Regular dental checkups allow Dr. Yurovsky to diagnose any problems early, monitor any areas of decay, and remove plaque that has built up over time. She will also assess the health of the gums and other tissues in your mouth.
Each person has individual needs or concerns. Therefore, your dental cleanings are also an opportunity for you to discuss these needs and concerns with Dr. Yurovsky.
Low Radiation Digital X-Rays
Digital X-Rays are taken using very low radiation. As a result, they require less time to process than traditional X-rays, use no harmful chemicals, and can be digitally enhanced or enlarged to aid the dentist in treatment planning.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer is just as deadly as other forms of cancer. However, at your next dental visit, nearly 90% of all cases are curable when discovered early enough; this is why we will examine your mouth for signs of cancer. Upon request, Dr. Yurovsky will use the Orascoptic DK oral cancer screening system to detect pre-cancerous changes in the oral tissues at a stage where they can be more successfully treated.
Since cancer can take the form of many non-alarming tissue changes in the oral region, you must see us now if you have any sore or discolored area of your mouth which does not heal within 14 days.
If cancer is not found early enough, tumors may grow deep into underlying tissues and spread to lymph nodes in the neck. When tumors invade lymph glands, the chance for effective treatment decreases. So again, early detection is the key!
Contact Us today at 215-545-1202 to schedule your next examination and to receive an oral cancer screening.
