The three pillars of preventative care
Good oral health starts with consistent daily habits, supported by professional care and smart lifestyle choices.
Daily home care
Brushing twice a day and flossing once removes the plaque and bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease before they can take hold.
Professional checkups
Regular exams and cleanings remove tartar buildup, catch issues early, and give Dr. Chan a chance to monitor your overall oral health.
Diet & lifestyle
What you eat and drink directly affects your teeth. Limiting sugar, staying hydrated, and avoiding tobacco are powerful protective steps.
Care guides, topic by topic
- Use a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste
- Hold brush at a 45° angle to the gumline
- Use gentle circular or back-and-forth strokes
- Brush all surfaces: outer, inner, and chewing
- Don't forget to gently brush your tongue
- Brush for a full 2 minutes, twice daily
- Replace your toothbrush every 3–4 months
- Wait 30 minutes after eating before brushing
Brushing & flossing basics
Brushing removes plaque — the soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth throughout the day. When plaque is left undisturbed, it produces acids that erode enamel and cause cavities. Brushing twice daily is the single most important habit you can build.
Flossing reaches the 35% of each tooth's surface that a toothbrush cannot access. Cleaning between teeth removes plaque and food particles from below the gumline, where gum disease most often begins. Daily flossing dramatically reduces your risk of gingivitis and bone loss.
Electric toothbrushes often outperform manual ones — especially for patients with arthritis or dexterity challenges. Ask us which is right for you at your next visit.
- Protect: Water, dairy, leafy greens, nuts, lean proteins
- Protect: Crunchy vegetables that stimulate saliva flow
- Protect: Cheese — raises oral pH and provides calcium
- Limit: Sugary drinks, soda, juice, and sports drinks
- Limit: Sticky candies and dried fruits
- Limit: Acidic foods like citrus and vinegar-based snacks
- Avoid: Sipping sugary drinks slowly throughout the day
Diet & nutrition for teeth
Your diet has a profound impact on your oral health. Sugars and refined carbohydrates feed the bacteria in plaque, which produce enamel-damaging acids. The frequency of sugar exposure matters as much as the amount — sipping a soda over an hour causes far more harm than drinking it quickly.
Calcium-rich foods like dairy, almonds, and leafy greens help strengthen enamel. Crunchy vegetables stimulate saliva — your mouth's natural defense system — which neutralizes acids and washes away food particles. Staying hydrated with water is one of the simplest things you can do for your smile.
If you drink acidic beverages, use a straw and rinse with water afterward. Wait at least 30 minutes before brushing so you don't scrub softened enamel.
- Review of medical history and any concerns
- Examination of teeth, gums, and soft tissues
- Oral cancer screening (quick and painless)
- Dental X-rays as clinically indicated
- Professional scaling to remove tartar buildup
- Polishing to remove surface stains
- Fluoride treatment when appropriate
- Personalized home care recommendations
Routine exams & cleanings
Even with perfect brushing and flossing, plaque can calcify into tartar — a hard mineral deposit that cannot be removed at home. Professional cleanings remove tartar from all surfaces, including deep below the gumline where it does the most damage.
Dental exams allow Dr. Chan to detect problems long before they become serious. Catching a small cavity early means a simple filling rather than a root canal. Gum disease identified at the gingivitis stage is completely reversible. Most patients benefit from cleanings every six months.
Don't wait for a toothache to visit us. Pain is often a late sign that a problem has progressed. Prevention is always less costly — in every sense — than treatment.
- Dental sealants for children's molars (and adults)
- In-office fluoride treatments
- Prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste
- Custom mouthguards for grinding (bruxism)
- Athletic mouthguards for sports
- Dry mouth management strategies
- Tobacco cessation resources & counseling
Sealants, fluoride & protective treatments
Dental sealants are thin protective coatings painted onto the chewing surfaces of back molars, where most cavities in children form. The deep grooves on molars are nearly impossible to clean completely with a toothbrush — sealants fill those grooves and reduce cavity risk by up to 80%.
Fluoride strengthens enamel and makes it more resistant to acid attacks. It can even reverse the earliest stages of tooth decay. Professional fluoride treatments provide a concentrated dose that home products cannot match. For patients at higher risk, prescription fluoride toothpaste is also available.
Sealants aren't just for children — adults with deep grooves or a history of cavities can benefit too. Ask Dr. Chan if you're a good candidate at your next appointment.
How often should you...?
Brush your teeth for 2 minutes
Floss between all teeth
Visit Dr. Chan for exam & cleaning
Replace your toothbrush or brush head
Patients often ask us...
Is it normal for my gums to bleed when I floss?
Occasional light bleeding when first starting to floss regularly is common, but persistent bleeding is a sign of gum inflammation. With consistent daily flossing, bleeding typically resolves within 1–2 weeks. If it doesn't, let us know at your next visit.
Is mouthwash a replacement for brushing or flossing?
No — mouthwash is a supplement, not a substitute. It cannot remove plaque mechanically. That said, an antiseptic or fluoride rinse can be a helpful addition to your routine, especially if you're prone to cavities or gum issues.
My teeth look fine. Do I still need X-rays?
Yes. Most cavities and bone loss develop between teeth or below the gumline — invisible to the eye and painless until serious. X-rays allow Dr. Chan to detect problems at a stage when treatment is simpler, less invasive, and less costly.
Are electric toothbrushes really better?
Studies show oscillating-rotating electric brushes reduce plaque and gingivitis more effectively on average. However, a manual brush used with proper technique can be equally effective. The best brush is the one you'll use consistently for two minutes, twice a day.
How much fluoride should be in my toothpaste?
For most adults, a toothpaste containing 1,000–1,500 ppm (parts per million) of fluoride is recommended — this is the standard concentration found in most over-the-counter brands. Patients at higher risk for cavities may benefit from a prescription-strength toothpaste with up to 5,000 ppm. For young children, a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste is appropriate for ages 0–3, increasing to a pea-sized amount from ages 3–6. Ask Dr. Chan if your current toothpaste is the right strength for your needs.
Can gum disease affect my overall health?
Yes — research has linked untreated gum disease to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes complications, stroke, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Your oral health is deeply connected to your whole-body health, which is why we take preventative gum care seriously.
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule your preventative care visit with Dr. Chan today. We're here to partner with you on a lifetime of excellent oral health.