Preventive Dentistry – Cottonwood Heights, UT

How We Keep Your Smile Looking & Feeling Great

Preventive dentistry in our Cottonwood Heights, UT dental office emphasizes the importance of ongoing hygiene procedures and daily practices to prevent tooth decay and other dental diseases. Effective preventive dentistry combines at-home oral care with chairside treatments and counseling by dental professionals.

For example, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a minimum of two dental appointments each year for a professional checkup and cleaning for the management of any developing conditions. Adhering to this recommendation can help your dentist stop dental disease in its earliest stages, protecting your smile and limiting your expense.

Man and woman sharing healthy smiles after preventive dentistry

Why Choose White Peak Dental for Preventive Dentistry?

  • Open to Dental Patients of All Ages
  • Locally Owned Private Dental Office
  • Accepting of All Dental Insurances

Early Prevention

Man smiling during dental checkup for early prevention

Begin daily tooth cleaning as soon as your child’s first tooth erupts. Bring them to a dentist when the first tooth erupts, or no later than 12 months of age, to establish a comprehensive oral health prevention program for your child.

Preventive Dentistry Strategies

Man discussing preventive dentistry strategies with his dentist

Preventive oral care strategies for children and adults include a number of in-office and home care activities, including:

At-Home Oral Hygiene

Man and woman keeping up with their at home oral hygiene routine

The most important prevention technique is brushing and flossing at least twice a day (or after every meal) to remove dental plaque, a film-like coating that forms on your teeth. If not removed, plaque can build up and produce dental tartar, a hardened, sticky substance with acid-producing bacteria that cause tooth decay and lead to gum disease.

Fluoride Use

Dentist applying fluoride to patient's teeth

Fluoride strengthens teeth and prevents tooth decay. Fluoride treatments are provided in dental offices, and dentists recommend using fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses at home. Fluoride is absorbed easily into tooth enamel, especially in children’s growing teeth. Once teeth are developed, fluoride strengthens tooth structure, making them more resistant to decay. Fluoride also repairs or remineralizes areas in which decay has already begun, thus reversing the process and creating a decay-resistant tooth surface.

Diet

A nutritious variety of foods

A balanced diet is a dental health essential. Foods with sugars and carbohydrates feed the bacteria that produce dental plaque, while calcium-poor diets increase your chances of developing gum (periodontal) disease and jaw deterioration.

Regular Dental Visits

Woman talking to dental team member during her regular dental visits

Since most dental conditions are painless at first, if you don’t regularly visit your dentist, you may not be aware of dental problems until they cause significant damage. For the best results, schedule regular dental checkups every six months or more often if you’re at higher risk for oral diseases. Your dentist should also perform oral cancer screenings to check for signs of abnormalities. Especially for children, monitoring their oral growth should be part of dental evaluations.

Dental Cleanings and Screenings

Man receiving dental cleaning and screening

A dental cleaning (prophylaxis) is recommended every six months to remove dental plaque and stains you’re unable to remove yourself as well as check for signs of tooth decay.

Dental X-Rays

Dentist and patient looking at dental x-rays

X-rays enable us to look for signs of dental problems that are not visible to the naked eye, such as cavities between teeth and problems below the gum line.

Mouthguards

Teen with green mouthguard hanging from football helmet

Mouthguards, particularly a custom-made mouth guard prescribed by your dentist, can be worn during sports activities to protect against broken teeth. Mouthguards are also used to treat teeth grinding (bruxism), which can wear down teeth and contribute to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

Orthodontics

Young smiling woman with traditional orthodontics

A bad bite (malocclusion) can impair eating and speaking, and crooked teeth are hard to keep clean. Correcting an improper bite with orthodontics, which can include the use of dental braces or clear teeth aligners (invisible braces) such as Invisalign or Invisalign Teen, limits the possibility of future dental problems.

Dental Sealants

Young woman smiling after receiving dental sealants

Sealants are thin composite coatings placed on the chewing surfaces of the back permanent teeth to protect your child from tooth decay.

Avoid Smoking and Drinking

Person refusing a cigarette offered by someone else

Tobacco and alcohol consumption can negatively affect your oral health. Apart from dry mouth, tooth discoloration, and plaque buildup, smoking causes gum disease, tooth loss, and even oral cancer.

Oral Health Management

Woman visiting the dentist to develop an oral health maintenance plan

Consistent dental care for chronic dental diseases/conditions is essential for arresting or reversing their harmful effects.