Daily and thorough oral hygiene is the most crucial part of preventive dentistry. If your hygiene routine is not effective, plaque and tartar will accumulate on your teeth, putting you at risk of various oral health issues. But what exactly are plaque and tartar? In this article, we answer this question and advise you on how to prevent their accumulation on your teeth.
What Are Plaque and Tartar?
Plaque is a sticky, acidic film that accumulates on your teeth. It consists of your saliva mixed with food debris and bacteria. Both acid and bacteria are harmful to our teeth because they slowly eat away at the enamel, causing cavities.
If plaque is not removed from the teeth regularly, it hardens and turns into tartar, also called calculus. Tartar can accumulate not only on the surface of your teeth but also below the gum line, causing periodontal disease. Similarly to plaque, tartar is also filled with bacteria that destroy the enamel of your teeth and cause tooth decay. Tartar can not be removed at home with brushing and flossing. Only a dental specialist can remove tartar with special tools.
How to Prevent Plaque and Tartar Accumulation?
Good daily oral hygiene should be your main focus if you want to keep your teeth free from plaque and tartar. It is also essential to have regular professional preventive dental care. To achieve the best results, make sure to follow these steps:
Brush Your Teeth Correctly
Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes, holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline. Make sure to reach all areas in your mouth and brush each tooth from the front, back, and along the chewing surface.
Choose the Right Toothpaste and Brush
Avoid brushing your teeth with an abrasive or whitening toothpaste that can be damaging to the enamel. Instead, opt for a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride benefits your oral health by remineralizing the enamel and making it more resistant to bacteria, thus preventing cavities and gum disease.
Choose a toothbrush that is suitable for your teeth and gums. Ask your dentist to recommend the appropriate hardness of a brush, which will clean your teeth effectively but will not irritate your gums.
Floss Every Evening
Flossing is another essential step in your hygiene routine. Dentists recommend flossing every day during your night oral hygiene routine. Thread the floss gently between the teeth, and make sure to clean each tooth from both sides. Be careful not to damage your gums when flossing. If you find using traditional floss challenging, try special floss threaders or interdental brushes.
Add a Waterpik to Your Routine
A Waterpik or another water flosser device is proven to be effective as an additional step in your daily routine. It cleans your teeth by sending a stream of water and loosening up the food debris and plaque. A water flosser can help you clean hard-to-reach areas in your mouth and along the gum line. On top of that, using a water flosser before brushing your teeth can boost the effectiveness of your fluoride toothpaste.
It is recommended to use a water flosser as a first step in your routine, followed by flossing with a traditional floss and brushing. Alternatively, you can start with a traditional floss, then water floss, and then brush your teeth. Remember that a water flosser can not replace traditional flossing and brushing but should be used as an addition to your oral hygiene routine.
Get Regular Professional Dental Cleanings
Unfortunately, some plaque might accumulate on your teeth over time and turn into tartar even if your oral hygiene is impeccable. Crowded teeth or any other orthodontic issues can also make it harder to clean the teeth properly. That is why it is so vital to have professional dental cleanings every 6 months.
Opt for Professional Fluoride Treatments
As we mentioned before, fluoride is an excellent ingredient for the health of your teeth and gums, and it is essential to add to your daily tooth care. However, you can also opt to have professional fluoride treatments as a part of each dental cleaning.
As plaque and tartar are removed during the cleaning, fluoride solution can better penetrate the enamel of your teeth. On top of that, professional fluoride solutions are much more potent than over-the-counter toothpaste, being a good regular boost to the health and resilience of your teeth.
Make an Appointment at Our Office Today
Do not hesitate to sign up for a consultation and professional hygiene procedures with a reliable cosmetic dentist today. We look forward to your visit to Dental Care of Chino Hills.