Preventive Care In Lakewood and Steilacoom, WA

Preventive Dental Care & Home Care

Protect Your Smile Every Day

A healthy smile starts with what you do at home and is supported by regular professional care. Preventive dentistry is about more than treating problems after they develop—it’s about identifying risks early, protecting your natural teeth, and helping you maintain excellent oral health over time.

At Quality Dentistry, people are at the heart of everything we do. We combine personalized preventive care with education and modern dentistry to help you feel confident about caring for your smile at every stage of life.

Simple Steps for a Healthier Smile

Brush Twice a Day

Brush your teeth twice a day for approximately two minutes using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.

Hold the toothbrush at approximately a 45-degree angle toward the gumline and use gentle, controlled motions. Be sure to clean:

• The outside surfaces of your teeth

• The inside surfaces

• The chewing surfaces

• Along the gumline

• The inside surfaces of your front teeth

Gently cleaning your tongue can also help remove bacteria and keep your mouth feeling fresh.

Clean Between Your Teeth Every Day

A toothbrush cannot effectively reach the spaces between your teeth. Flossing or another appropriate interdental cleaner once a day helps remove plaque and food debris from these areas.

When flossing, gently guide the floss between the teeth and curve it around each tooth in a C-shape. Move the floss gently up and down along the sides of the teeth and just beneath the gumline.

Depending on your individual needs, we may also recommend interdental brushes, water flossers, or other cleaning aids.

Consider a Therapeutic Mouthwash

Mouthwash can be a helpful addition to your oral-care routine for some patients, particularly when recommended for a specific concern such as increased cavity risk, gum inflammation, or dry mouth.

However, mouthwash should complement—not replace—brushing and cleaning between your teeth.

Choose Foods That Support Your Oral Health

Your diet plays an important role in the health of your teeth and gums.

Try to:

• Limit frequent sugary snacks and drinks

• Choose nutritious, balanced meals

• Drink plenty of water

• Choose tooth-friendly snacks such as vegetables, cheese, plain yogurt, and whole fruits

• Limit frequent sipping or snacking throughout the day

Reducing how often your teeth are exposed to sugar and acids can be just as important as reducing the total amount of sugar you consume.

Regular Dental Checkups Matter

Even excellent home care cannot replace professional dental examinations and cleanings.

For many patients, visits approximately every six months are appropriate. However, your ideal schedule depends on your individual oral health, gum health, cavity risk, age, and other factors.

Regular visits allow us to:

• Detect cavities and gum disease early

• Monitor changes in your oral health

• Remove plaque and calculus that brushing cannot

• Evaluate existing dental work

• Screen for other oral-health concerns

• Provide personalized prevention recommendations

Ask About Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are thin protective coatings placed into the grooves of the chewing surfaces of certain teeth. They can help protect areas that are difficult to clean and are particularly useful for patients who are at increased risk for cavities.

We will evaluate your individual needs and let you know if sealants are appropriate.

Protect Your Smile During Sports

Whether you participate in organized sports or recreational activities, a properly fitted mouthguard can help protect your teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums from injury.

We can help you determine whether a custom-fitted mouthguard is right for your needs.

Brushing: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

1. Position your toothbrush
Place the bristles at approximately a 45-degree angle toward the gumline.

2. Brush gently
Use small, gentle circular or short back-and-forth motions. Avoid aggressive scrubbing, which can contribute to gum recession and enamel wear.

3. Clean every surface
Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of every tooth.

4. Don't forget your front teeth
Use the tip of the toothbrush to carefully clean the inside surfaces of your upper and lower front teeth.

5. Give your tongue a gentle cleaning
This can help remove bacteria and keep your mouth feeling fresh.

Flossing: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

1. Start with enough floss
Use enough floss to give you a clean section as you move from tooth to tooth.

2. Gently guide the floss between your teeth
Avoid snapping the floss against your gums.

3. Curve the floss around each tooth
Form a gentle C-shape around the tooth and move the floss up and down along the tooth surface, extending slightly beneath the gumline.

4. Repeat for every space
Use a clean section of floss as you move from one area to the next, making sure to clean both sides of every tooth.

If traditional flossing is difficult, don't give up. We can recommend other tools and techniques that may make cleaning between your teeth easier and more effective.

Prevention Is Personalized

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to preventive dentistry. Your age, dental history, gum health, bite, medications, habits, and risk for cavities can all influence the care that's right for you.

Our team takes the time to understand your individual needs and help you build an effective long-term oral-care routine.

Advanced dentistry. Personalized care. A better experience.

At Quality Dentistry, our goal is to help you keep your natural teeth healthy, strong, and comfortable for as long as possible—through thoughtful prevention, patient education, and comprehensive dental care.

People are at the heart of everything we do.

 

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