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Preventive care – The basis of your dental health

Prophylaxis refers to all measures that serve to prevent caries, periodontitis and other tooth and gum diseases:

  • In a broader sense, teeth cleaning at home is also part of prophylaxis.
  • Professional dental hygiene, in which teeth are freed from plaque, tartar, discoloration etc.
  • For children, prophylactic measures also include the sealing of fissures – i.e. the tight pits in the chewing surface of the side teeth, in which caries forms particularly frequently and which often are so deep that they cannot be cleaned effectively.
  • An adequate supply of the teeth with fluoride and other natural trace elements that are needed to build bones and teeth, as well as nutritional recommendations are also part of preventive care.
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Teeth cleaning: At home and at the dentist

Most people understand the term “preventive care” to mean regular tooth brushing at home and the annual visit to the dentist who performs a thorough check-up. For the vast majority, however, these measures alone are not enough to protect the teeth and gums from tooth decay and other diseases.

Diseases of the gums and tooth decay are primarily caused by bacteria that are found in plaque and thus settle on teeth and gums. In order to get rid of this bacterial plaque, teeth must be brushed daily – with the help of the right cleaning technique and the appropriate tools.

It is particularly important to thoroughly clean the spaces between the teeth with dental floss as these areas are usually inaccessible to the toothbrush. Just as inaccessible is the area under the edge of the gums, where there is a so-called pocket between the tooth and the gums. However, a good prophylaxis means thoroughly removing all deposits and usually, that’s only possible with suitable instruments, such as those used in professional dental hygiene.

Teeth cleaning: At home and at the dentist

Most people understand the term “preventive care” to mean regular tooth brushing at home and the annual visit to the dentist who performs a thorough check-up. For the vast majority, however, these measures alone are not enough to protect the teeth and gums from tooth decay and other diseases.

Diseases of the gums and tooth decay are primarily caused by bacteria that are found in plaque and thus settle on teeth and gums. In order to get rid of this bacterial plaque, teeth must be brushed daily – with the help of the right cleaning technique and the appropriate tools.

It is particularly important to thoroughly clean the spaces between the teeth with dental floss as these areas are usually inaccessible to the toothbrush. Just as inaccessible is the area under the edge of the gums, where there is a so-called pocket between the tooth and the gums. However, a good prophylaxis means thoroughly removing all deposits and usually, that’s only possible with suitable instruments, such as those used in professional dental hygiene.

Recommendations for your individual prophylaxis

The recommendations for your individual preventive care and professional dental hygiene may vary. Patients who have difficulties due to deep gum pockets (periodontitis) should tend to have their teeth professionally cleaned more often than others. Also people with dental implants and other forms of dental replacements such as crowns and bridges benefit from a frequent teeth cleaning by professional prophylaxis specialists.

Just talk to us: We will be happy to give you recommendations about the intervals at which professional teeth cleaning makes sense for you.

Oral hygiene, supply of teeth with fluoride and nutritional advice

Prophylaxis is based on an adequately good oral hygiene. Various types of toothbrushes, dental flosses, various toothpastes and other aids are available for personal dental care and mouth cleaning – for example special devices with which you can also brush your tongue. Toothpastes usually contain fluoride, which hardens the tooth enamel. If children use toothpaste containing fluoride, the parents should not give them any fluoride tablets or similar, otherwise there is a risk of overdose of fluoride.

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A healthy diet also contributes to prevention of tooth decay. Above all, reducing intake of sugar to a reasonable level is crucial. In addition to bacteria, tooth enamel can also be directly attacked by acids – for example from fruits. If you do something good for yourself and eat fruit, you shouldn’t immediately grab a toothbrush afterwards. The principle in this case is: about half an hour after consumption, the enamel has hardened to that point where it can be cleaned with a toothbrush and toothpaste without harming it.

We would be happy to advise you what you can do in terms of your personal prophylaxis such as oral hygiene, fluoride intake and healthy nutrition to achieve the best preventive care possible!

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Prophylaxis in children: sealing of deep fissures

As soon as children’s teeth break through, the fissures – the dimples on the chewing surface of the teeth – will be colonized by bacteria by nature. Those fissures are about one millimeter deep and very tight (50 μm) and are therefore also very difficult or even impossible to clean. If your child is at risk of caries, the fissures can be sealed immediately after the tooth erupts. To do so, the fine dimples are filled with a thin layer of sealant, which then hardens.

If your child’s fissures have already been cavitated by bacteria, an “extended fissure sealing” can be done. For this purpose, the fissures are thoroughly cleaned and expanded a little into the cavitated area before applying the filling material.

Prophylaxis in children: sealing of deep fissures

As soon as children’s teeth break through, the fissures – the dimples on the chewing surface of the teeth – will be colonized by bacteria by nature. Those fissures are about one millimeter deep and very tight (50 μm) and are therefore also very difficult or even impossible to clean. If your child is at risk of caries, the fissures can be sealed immediately after the tooth erupts. To do so, the fine dimples are filled with a thin layer of sealant, which then hardens.

If your child’s fissures have already been cavitated by bacteria, an “extended fissure sealing” can be done. For this purpose, the fissures are thoroughly cleaned and expanded a little into the cavitated area before applying the filling material.

Contact us for a bright & healthy smile!

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