Did you know that studies have shown a link between dental diseases and other health problems? For example, a healthy mouth may help you prevent other diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Tooth decay and gum disease, for instance, have been linked to heart attacks.

With a good dentist, you can easily avoid dental diseases and other detrimental dental conditions. As Benjamin Franklin stated so many years ago, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the same certainly holds true when it comes to dental health.

Each dentist is different. These days, it seems as if some dentists emphasize cosmetic dental practices, such as teeth whitening, more than they emphasize the traditional bread-and-butter of dentistry: cleaning and prevention.

Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. Your Westlake Village dentist should educate you on the best oral hygiene practices for your situation. Patients with braces, dentures, or bridges, as well as those prone to cavities, have different dental hygiene needs than patients with a different dental situation.

By contacting us  you can schedule an appointment and get the professional cleaning that is essential for the health of your teeth.

A good Westlake Village dentist can educate you on the finer points of dental hygiene at home, such as:

•    Why you should brush your tongue, not just your teeth
•    How to choose the right toothbrush
•    How to brush when you have sensitive teeth
•    Why you need to change your toothbrush out every three months
•    How to avoid tooth staining, rather than paying for expensive whitening treatments


In addition to good oral hygiene practiced at home, you need to visit your dentist on a regular basis for dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Regular visits to the dentist ensure that you're getting the best possible care for your teeth, while simultaneously preventing potential dental problems.

Dr. Philip Shindler is a dentist who understands how important basic cleaning and prevention is for dental health. Working as a Westlake Village dentist since 1987, Dr. Shindler is a member of the California Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the Conejo Valley Academy, and the Alpha Omega Dental Society.

Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. Your Thousand Oaks dentist or Westlake Village dentist will educate you on the best oral hygiene practices for your situation.