What is ‘active maintenance’ and why is it so important?

Active maintenance is a very important part of keeping your teeth and gums healthy for life

The term ‘active maintenance’ is quite common and one you’ve most likely heard before. What most people don’t realise is that active maintenance is actually the most important part of keeping good oral health. If you’re already brushing regularly, flossing, using mouthwash and visiting the dentist every six months then you’re already doing it! Although there are a number of factors that can play a part in your oral health, ultimately it\’s up to you to ensure you’re practising active maintenance.

Active maintenance plays a huge role in the preventive measures that ensure you maintain good oral health and avoid any serious oral health problems from arising, rather than just addressing them once they are already present. When you brush and floss, you are actively maintaining all surfaces of your teeth to prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar. This means you spend as little time in the dental chair as possible.

Active maintenance is far easier than many people think! Brushing, flossing and using mouthwash is all it takes to be an expert at active maintenance. However, if you consider brushing every few days and flossing occasionally to be good active maintenance, then you aren’t doing enough to prevent oral health problems from arising in the future.

Effective Active Maintenance

There are a number of ways in which you can effectively practice active maintenance and prolong the life of your teeth, including:

• Brushing TWICE each day, with correct technique and pressure, using a soft-bristled toothbrush, and for at least two minutes
• Flossing at least ONCE each day between all top and bottom teeth
• Be careful when eating! Be mindful of foods and drinks that might damage your teeth or lead to decay. Limiting these types of food and drink can help to keep your teeth healthy. This includes sweets, lollies, soft drinks and hard foods.
• Make sure you visit the dentist for a regular check-up and clean at least once every six months. By doing this, your dentist can remove plaque build up and keep an eye out for any developing oral health problems.

Are you already doing all of these things? Well done! You ‘re already taking steps toward maintaining good oral health.

How does Wahroonga Family Dental Centre play a role in active maintenance?

Your dentist is not with you all hours of the day to ensure you are taking the correct steps to maintain good oral health by brushing, flossing and using mouthwash regularly. Unfortunately, the only opportunity they get to check your teeth and gums is during your visit to the practice for your regular six-monthly check-up and clean. That’s why these regular dental visits are so important.

Many of us get into the habit of treating our regular dental check-ups just like a teenager would treat cleaning their bedroom. It gets done, only once it’s already messy. The importance of these appointments should not be underestimated as your dentist can detect and diagnose any existing issues and create a treatment plan designed to suit your specific condition.

One of the biggest advantages of active maintenance is not only the benefit of healthy teeth and gums, but it also has less of a strain on your wallet. Attending regular check-ups is far more cost-effective than leaving issues until they become serious problems that could require extensive restorative treatment.

If you would like to find out more about the general dental treatments on offer at Wahroonga Family Dental Centre or to book a check-up and clean, contact our friendly team today!