Preventive dentistry is any measure you take to care for your oral health to prevent complications. That means brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and being mindful of how your diet may be affecting your teeth and gums, but it also means visiting your dentist regularly for checkups.
Although maintaining a great oral hygiene routine at home can go a long way toward preventing cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues, you still leave yourself more open to these complications if you’re not receiving regular oral exams and teeth cleanings as well.
It’s important to see your dentist regularly throughout your lifetime, but it becomes even more critical the older you get. Pretty much every oral health issue becomes more prevalent with age, but gum disease is perhaps the most prevalent, with nearly 50% of all adults who are at least 30 having some form of it.