Preventive care is important for maintaining good oral health. It keeps the teeth and gums healthy and can prevent gum disease, oral cancer and other problems. By maintaining good oral health through preventive care, overall health can improve as well. For instance, gum disease is linked to other health problems, such as heart disease. Maintaining good oral health can potentially reduce your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Dr. Jeffery Johnson and Dr. Jodi Johnson are your preventive care dentists in St. Louis, MO.

Improved Oral Health

Preventive care includes regular dental visits with professional teeth cleaning. Your St. Louis dentist has the professional skills and equipment to clean the teeth and gums more thoroughly than is possible at home. For instance, tartar buildup develops when plaque is not removed from the teeth. Tartar buildup cannot be cleaned away with regular brushing and flossing at home. Only a professional dental cleaning can remove tartar buildup. Removing tartar buildup helps prevent gingivitis and more advanced stages of gum disease.

Early Detection & Prevention of Other Diseases

In addition to improving oral health, preventive care can also help with early detection of other diseases in the body. The Academy of General Dentistry conducted a study in which links were discovered between poor oral health and various systemic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or pancreatic cancer. Poor oral health can potentially contribute to the development of such diseases. By maintaining good oral health, preventive care can potentially help prevent the development of other conditions in the body.

In addition to potentially preventing the development of other diseases in the body, preventive dental care is also important for early detection of other diseases. Some health conditions exhibit warning signs in the mouth. For instance, bone loss in the jaw area can be an indication of osteoporosis. By visiting a dentist regularly for preventive dental care, the dentist can help you maintain good oral health and potentially detect the early warning signs of other diseases so that you can seek medical treatment.

Preventive care is extremely important for maintaining good oral health. Dr. Jeffery Johnson and Dr. Jodi Johnson, your St. Louis, MO, dentists, can address all your dental needs, including preventive care. To schedule an appointment, call the office at (314) 427-7400.