The Tribune

By DR ANDRE CLARKE

IT IS so important to practice good mouth-cleaning.

It should be done daily. Such a regime should include teeth and tongue cleaning, as well as mouth rinsing. A toothbrush, floss and mouthwash are some of the items commonly used to make the process easier and faster.

It may be assumed that with good mouth-cleaning instruments and techniques, healthy teeth and smiles are guaranteed. This is not the case: regular dental visits and a good, healthy, balanced diet are crucial in guaranteeing healthy teeth and mouths.

We all need the oversight of a well-trained dental professional to keep an eye on us. This will ensure that our ‘homes’ (our teeth) are not built on ‘sand’ (bad habits).

Even though we may be doing the right things at home, we will still need someone to examine us for disease and to help us handle any challenges that may arise as a result of trauma and/or age.

Some call aging the curse of life, but is going to see the dentist regularly the scourge of a beautiful smile? Is going to see the dentist a necessary evil? Seeing your dentist is necessary, but is it evil?

Dentists do not enjoy inflicting pain and will always try their best to prevent it. They all have the prerequisite skills to ensure your smile is healthy and beautiful. They are not fiends, but friends.

The Bahamas Dental Council ensures that dentists are scientifically equipped to practice dentistry in this country but they cannot ensure friendliness, good manners and etiquette. These are qualities to look for when you are looking for a dental home. You are, in actuality, determining if your personality gels with that of the dentist.

A “dental home” is the descriptive moniker given to a dental office where you go all the time, where you take your children and your children’s children and, most importantly, where you feel most at ease. You may never feel totally at ease, but there is that one dental office where you feel most at ease. That should be your “dental home”.

It is best to decide on a dental home, because that is where you will develop a good, professional familiarity with the dental professional and he with you. You will get to know him and he will get to know you. The professional will be able to effortlessly address issues when they arise, and even prevent them, because he will be familiar with your medical, dental and family history. He will be able to understand how these things impact each other and impact your receptiveness to any procedure.

These allow for continuity of care and for dental treatment plans to be completed in a timely fashion. The avoidance of punctuated and erratic approaches places less stress not only on patients but on healthcare professionals.

It is very important to discover your dental home and to make visiting the dentist a stress-free event. Regular checkups and cleanings should be the goal. Preventing a problem is always better than treating it, but if treatment becomes necessary, you would already be at home; your dental home.

The American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Special Care Dentistry Association are three of a myriad of organisations that suggest the identification and the utilisation of a dental home. They do not condone dentist shopping, especially if the only reason is price.

It is not advisable to go to several dentists and perpetually punctuate care in order to save a couple of coffers. Choose an affordable and caring dentist and make that office your dental home. A dental home is suggested and not a dental house. One popular dictionary describes home as “the place in which one’s ... affections are centred”.

It is very important to be comfortable with your dentist and the dental experience he/she offers.

• This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended and may not be treated as, a substitute for professional medical/dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or dental professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical/dental condition. Never disregard professional medical/dental advice or delay in seeking it because of a purely informational publication.

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