Primary prevention
The best means of prevention is to maintain excellent oral health by:
Brushing teeth at least twice-daily with a fluoridated toothpaste
Flossing teeth daily
Consuming fluoridated drinking water
Eating healthily and minimising the intake of sugary items, carbonated beverages, and between-meal snacks
Regular dental check-ups with preventive care (e.g., fluoride varnishes, sealants, periodontal management, prompt treatment of early decay, removal of partially exposed/impacted wisdom teeth, and root canal treatment of necrotic teeth).
Public water fluoridation:
From a public health perspective, dental caries remains one of the most prevalent worldwide chronic diseases. Beyond public educational measures, public water fluoridation prevents dental decay in children and adults and, as a single measure, has significant preventive advantages for high-risk sub-groups. [
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In 1999, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognised water fluoridation as one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.[30] Many other scientific and health organisations, including the World Health Organization, endorse water fluoridation (in communities with a piped water supply) for the prevention of dental caries.[31]
Dental sealants:
Involves the placement of a plastic material into deep pits and fissures on posterior teeth to prevent plaque accumulation in these areas, thereby preventing or arresting the development of tooth decay.
Screening for wisdom teeth:
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pericoronal abscesses. Some experts recommend screening teenagers and young adults with panoramic dental radiographs to identify third molars with inadequate space for eruption as they are developing. These impacted third molars can be removed prophylactically prior to complete root development. This minimises potential surgical risks, while preventing future concerns for the development of pericoronitis and other complications related to unerupted teeth.[16][32] However, data are lacking, and one review found insufficient evidence to support or refute routine prophylactic removal of asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth in adults.[33] [
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Secondary prevention
Many patients with poor oral care habits have multiple areas of decay and generalised periodontal involvement; therefore, even if the immediate source of infection is removed, definitive dental care and improved oral hygiene are required as they are otherwise at high risk for recurrent periapical or periodontal abscesses/infections.
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