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Preventive Care

WHAT IS PREVENTIVE CARE?

Many serious health problems are preventable. It is important to take an active role in your health and know the steps you can take to keep yourself healthy. The role of preventive care is to help you take care of yourself before you get sick. Problems that start as small health issues—the kind we all tend to ignore—can become serious if they go undetected and untreated. That’s why getting regular physical exams from your family doctor or primary care physician is so important.

A preventive care plan includes what you can do to prevent disease, injury, and other ailments before you have problems. Simple examples of preventive care include washing your hands and getting your proper immunizations. Preventive care also includes medical examinations and screenings that you should have based on your age, health, gender, and family history. For example, a person with a family history of cancer would begin screening for cancer at an earlier age and more often than someone whose family had no history of cancer. Education about diet, exercise, sexual behavior, drug and alcohol abuse, dental health and seatbelt use and injury prevention promotes healthy habits is an important aspect of prevention.

 

TIPS

Preventive Dental Care
  • Have a dental checkup at least every 6 months.
  • Brush at least twice a day with soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
  • Use floss every day.
  • Use a small inter-dental brush daily to clean between teeth.
  • Use an anti-microbial mouth rinse to control gingivitis.
  • Use a topical application of fluoride for dry mouth.
  • If your gums bleed when you brush or eat, see your dentist.

Ask your Doctor

You are responsible for managing your own preventive care, but your primary care physician or health care provider should be your partner in your preventive care plan. Discuss what is best for you and your family given your ages, history and activities.

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