Preventative medicine is becoming more widely accepted and adopted as a successful route in keeping ourselves healthy. Wikipedia defines preventative medicine as, “Preventive medicine or preventive care is measures taken to prevent illness or injury, rather than curing them. Preventive care may include examinations and screening tests tailored to an individual's age, health, and family history.” Los Angeles Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist Dr. Kourosh Maddahi educates his patients about the wisdom of extending their preventative medical regimen to their mouths.

We know that a thorough and consistent oral hygiene program, when practiced daily, is a fundamental cornerstone to an oral preventative program. Mothers begin instilling this habit in their children from a very early age by teaching them to brush their teeth in the morning and before bedtime. Good oral hygiene is essential to both our visual image and our general health.

The absence of a daily oral hygiene practice can bring on a host of problems that begin in our mouths and can move to other parts of our bodies. Recent studies are linking heart attacks and strokes to gum disease. The American Dental Association states, “There is evidence that bacteria in the mouth which are associated with gum disease may be linked to heart disease, artery blockage and stroke.” Good oral hygiene coupled with regular checkups will keep your teeth and gums in optimum condition and potentially reduce your risk of life-threatening diseases.

Gingivitis, the beginning stage of gum disease, results in elevated levels of bacteria in the infected areas in the mouth. If left untreated the next stage of Gingivitis is called Periodontitis. At this stage there is a state of chronic inflammation wherein the body breaks down the bone and tissue in the infected area, which ultimately results in bone and tooth loss. If oral hygiene is integrated into our daily routines, the chance of gum disease is drastically reduced as well as accompanying whole body risks.

The complimentary element to our personal hygiene is regular dental checkups. These visits to our dentist help keep our gums and teeth in optimum condition and also detect problems such as cavities, gum disease and oral cancer at an early stage. Diagnosing and treating oral cancer at an early stage is essential, needless to say. And seeing as gum disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults, visiting our dentist regularly will help keep this in check. Again, prevention is the key here – early detection ensures that we keep our teeth. When we retain our teeth we chew better, assimilate the foods we eat and enjoy better health.

A general guideline for adults and children is to visit a dentist for a regular checkup and cleaning every six months. If someone is at a greater risk for oral cancer it is advised that checkups be scheduled at smaller intervals so that their dentist can screen for it. Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, when scheduling a patient’s next visit to his Beverly Hills Dental Spa, will take into account their use of tobacco and alcohol as well as whether they are pregnant, have diabetes, are at risk for oral cancer, have existing periodontal and gum disease or if they have poor oral hygiene.

Dr. Kourosh Maddahi stresses the importance of a well-balanced preventive dental program. The basis to a beautiful natural looking smile is a combined program of daily hygiene and regular visits to your dentist for thorough and meticulous dental care. Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, a caring Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist can then build on a healthy mouth to bring whatever aesthetic improvements his clients want and need.

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