There is a lot of talk about plaque and its contribution to gum disease and tooth decay. And rightly so: plaque is that sticky substance composed of harmful bacteria that clings to your teeth. When you maintain proper oral health, you can successfully rid your mouth of the majority of plaque. However, the likelihood that you will miss certain spots over time is high, and it only takes 24 to 72 hours for plaque to harden into tartar. As a local dentist in Flagstaff, Country Club Dental is passionate about educating our community about proper oral health care. That’s why we want to share these basic tips that help reduce dental plaque and tartar.
1. Don’t forget to floss!
You may or may not be convinced that this simple action can improve your oral health, but take it from your dentists: flossing is a must! Brushing twice daily is imperative to maintaining healthy teeth, but as you would imagine, brushing alone can’t remove all plaque buildup from between your teeth and the small pockets just under your gum line. When you floss at least once a day—we recommend the evening—you not only remove food particles that can become lodged between your teeth throughout the course of the day, but you gently scrape away harmful bacteria and plaque.
2. Try a water pick.
If you haven’t heard of this little contraption, it’s worth looking into as a daily supplement to brushing and flossing. Water picking utilizes a special machine that directs a pressurized stream of pulsating water into the mouth and gums. Rather than scraping the teeth to remove plaque, like with dental floss, water flossing uses the pressure of the water to massage the gums and remove food particles, bacteria, and plaque from between teeth and under the gum line.
3. Chew xylitol gum.
While other sugars break down into food for harmful bacteria that spread in our mouths and cause plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease, xylitol is indigestible by bacteria. As a result, the presence of harmful bacteria in the mouth can be greatly reduced when you chew gum that is sweetened with xylitol. Research has even shown that the use of xylitol dental products could restore tooth enamel by producing more alkaline saliva that remineralizes the teeth. Xylitol gum is easy to find, but we recommend brands like Spry or Epic.
4. Kick some bad habits.
At Country Club Dental, we try not to be in the business of telling our patients how to live their lives. But at the end of the day, there are a handful of bad habits that greatly increase the buildup of plaque and tartar, which leads to gum disease and cavities. Smoking, drinking sugary beverages and consuming alcohol are among the worst. If it’s within your power to do so, we highly recommend kicking some of these habits to the curb and replacing them with foods and beverages that have real dental benefits.
5. Schedule your biannual cleanings.
When tartar builds up above and below the gumline, it can impede your brushing and flossing, making it even more difficult to get to those hard-to-reach places between the teeth and around the gumline. In addition, tartar buildup above the gumline puts you at a higher risk for progressive gum disease, ultimately leading to periodontitis. Here is the kicker about tartar: once it’s formed, it can only be removed by a professional cleaning.
Keep Your Smile Bright in Flagstaff
At Country Club Dental, our goal is to see your teeth and gums stay strong and white as part of living an overall healthy and vibrant life. When you effectively reduce dental plaque and tartar, you also reduce the likelihood of developing tooth decay and gum disease. We’re a family-friendly office that sees patients of all ages, from age 3 all the way up to 103! Call us today to schedule your next cleaning or dental procedure: 928-526-4314.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use. Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay (10/2/2019)
