Dental experts define plaque as a thin, adhesive coating composed of food particles and bacteria. When bacteria eat, they produce waste in the form of acid. Clinical studies show that as more acid accumulates in your mouth, oral problems such as tooth decay continue to progress. Plaque helps exacerbate dental issues. If you want to have healthier teeth and gums, here are tips on how to prevent plaque buildup.
Don’t Consume Too Many Sweets
Dentists always remind their patients not to eat or drink a lot of starches and sweets. Research reveals that bacteria keep on eating as long as you consume those carbohydrates. When they eat, they produce acid waste that erodes your teeth, causing cavities.
Brush Regularly
Authorities on oral care advice that you should brush your teeth twice a day. Each time you brush, do it for two minutes. The plaque will build up if you don’t brush your teeth properly. If plaque lingers on your teeth long enough, it hardens and becomes tartar.
Use Fluoride Toothpaste and Mouthwash
Research maintains that fluoride is a helpful ingredient in any toothpaste and mouthwash. This ingredient strengthens and protects your enamel from acid attacks. Using mouthwash and toothpaste with fluoride in your daily oral cleaning can help prevent plaque accumulation.
Don’t Forget to Floss
Dentists emphasize that brushing alone doesn’t get all the food particles and plaque in between your teeth. Flossing after brushing before you go to bed helps prevent plaque from collecting along your gumlines and in between your teeth. According to experts, brushing only gets 65 percent of plaque and bacteria. Flossing removes the remaining 35 percent.
Keep Your Dental Appointments
A clinical analysis states that you can still miss bits of dental plaque even if you brush and floss regularly. Because of this, you still need to see your dentist so you can have a dental cleaning. You should have this treatment every six months. Other people may need to have it more frequently. Dental hygienists use a special instrument known as a scaler to remove the plaque and tartar from your teeth. If you skip your dental appointments, plaque will stay longer in your mouth and it will have more time to do significant damage.
Practice Healthy Living
Nutritionists recommend eating more fruits and vegetables to help you achieve optimal dental health. These foods stimulate the production of saliva that eliminates plaque and bacteria. Experts also say that you should quit smoking and drinking alcohol. Tobacco and alcoholic beverages encourage plaque formation and buildup. For smokers, plaque and tartar will only keep on coming back, unless they quit entirely.
You can prevent plaque buildup by maintaining good oral hygiene, living healthily, and visiting your dentist regularly. We, at Marietta Smile Gallery, are well-equipped to help you prevent plaque and tartar buildup in your mouth. Please visit our clinic in Marietta, Georgia, for a walk-in consultation. You can also call us at 770-809-1500 if you want to schedule an appointment or make inquiries about our extensive dental cleaning treatments.
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