How to prevent plaque and tartar

Brushing your teeth well and often isn't enough. Choosing the right toothbrush, using the right water, and using the right toothpaste are all factors. When to have your teeth cleaned by a dentist.

plaque and tartar remedies
Plaque and tartar are not the same: if anything, the latter is an evolution of the former. It's not necessary to constantly visit the dentist for dental hygiene. But it's also unthinkable that they can be avoided. tartar plate batrich without doing anything, and maybe only brushing your teeth the evening before going to sleep.

Differences between plaque and tartar

Plaque is a sticky film, made up of a mix of living and dead bacteria, white or off-white in color, that grows on your teeth. teeth and on gumsAnd this is the first stage of problems that can arise. If left untreated, it hardens by 50 percent in 48 hours and becomes rock-hard in just 12 days. At that point, it has turned into tartar, which some compare to the buildup on a pan after cooking.

Damage caused by plaque and tartar

What damage does plaque and tartar cause? There's an aesthetic issue: the teeth They become uglier, with an appearance that might even make you feel uncomfortable, for example when you smile. In fact, plaque, even before it turns into tartar, leads to enamel erosion. Then there's the issue of relationships: tartar and plaque lead directly to bad breath, and therefore put you in a position to annoy anyone who listens to you at close range. Or maybe they want to kiss you. And without effective intervention, bacterial plaque and tartar can lead to cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis.

The development of tartar from plaque also necessitates a visit to an oral hygiene expert, usually found in any dentist's office. Always look for trustworthy professionals; unfortunately, this is a world filled with many improvisers and even crooks. To remove tartar that you can't eliminate naturally but can prevent, it's advisable to visit a reputable professional, on average, once a year. Even just for a checkup, which is commonly referred to as an "oral hygiene booster."

How to prevent plaque and tartar

If you want to avoid spending money, prevent it. You can avoid dental hygiene if you can remove plaque in time, preventing it from developing into tartar. And this is possible at no cost, provided you practice oral hygiene at home, following a few simple steps, starting with the way you brush your teeth.

  • Brush your teeth properly. Think about it brush From teeth as if to a sword, and plaque as if to the enemy. In this case, the goal is to brush away the bad guy. The friction of the toothbrush disrupts the growth of bacterial plaque on the teeth, if used properly. And many don't. Up and down or left and right isn't good. What you need to do is tilt the toothbrush. brush so that the bristles are at a 45-degree angle to the point where the tooth meets the gums (the gums surrounding the tooth). Then, very gently, move the toothbrush in small circles, covering one or two teeth at a time.
  • Start from behind. The backs of your lower teeth are where plaque hides most easily. Too much emphasis is placed on cleaning what's visible on your smile, but your upper teeth are extremely accessible. However, the areas where your teeth meet your tongue and cheeks are neglected. That's why you should focus your efforts there.
  • The time it takes to clean your teeth. Many people brush their smile areas and only give the rest of their teeth a quick wave. Some studies have shown that most of us brush our teeth for about 30 seconds, while dentists, who are supposed to be the most skilled, take two to four minutes. What does this mean? Simply that teeth shouldn't be brushed too quickly; at least two minutes is needed.
  • When to brush your teeth. The ideal is to do it every time you eat, that is, after the Breakfast, after lunch and after dinner. Is it difficult? It's just a good habit. In any case, keep in mind that the more time you give plaque to turn into tartar, for example by brushing your teeth only in the evening, the greater the likelihood of the problems we mentioned at the beginning.
  • Buy a comfortable and durable toothbrush.  Go small when buying one brushYou need to reach every part of your teeth, including those at the very back of your mouth. A giant toothbrush won't speed up cleaning and won't reach the tiny crevices where germs hide. In any case, the toothbrush should be comfortable and durable, not a cheap, low-quality item.
  • Choose thick, soft bristles. Soft nylon bristles are gentler on tooth enamel, but just as harsh on plaque. The bristles should be rounded, not sharply cut. Sharply cut bristles are often sharp and can scratch teeth. gums.
  • Dental floss. When it comes to plaque control, dental floss and interdental brushes are more important than toothbrushes. But you need to use them properly. To use dental floss, take a 50-inch piece of floss, tie one end to the middle finger of one hand and the other end to the same finger of the other hand, leaving about an inch of floss in between. Using a gentle motion, slide the floss back and forth between two teeth. When the floss reaches your gums, bend it into a "C" shape against the tooth and slide the floss between tooth and gum until you feel some resistance. Now bend the floss on the other tooth in the same way. Orient the floss downward on the upper teeth and upward on the lower teeth.
  • The bottle brush. Interdental brushes, on the other hand, can be found at any pharmacy, and allow you to clean your teeth thoroughly by using them like a sharpened pen. They also come in different sizes, which are identified by the color of the packaging.
  • Don't overdo it. Don't push the floss and interdental brush up and down and in and out of your gums as if you were strangling plaque. This will also damage your gums. Go slowly and take your time.
  • Use a good toothpasteUse a fluoride toothpaste. Generic toothpastes may not contain active fluoride or be too abrasive. And try brushing with baking soda. It's an old trick that really works. Dip your toothbrush directly into the box or mix a spoonful of baking soda with a spoonful of baking soda. bicarbonate with a pinch of salt in a cup. Then wet the toothbrush and scrub.
  • Use pure waterDon't let an empty tube of toothpaste stop you from brushing. Wet your toothbrush under the faucet and brush away plaque.
  • Rinse thoroughly. After every meal, especially if you don't have a toothbrush, go to the bathroom and rinse your teeth with a sip of water. A good rinse removes residue and saves you the embarrassment of having spinach in your teeth.
  • The importance of mouthwashMouthwash can also be useful, not only to freshen breath but also as a natural prevention against plaque and then tartar. Choose a reliable and guaranteed product, perhaps after consulting with your dentist. You can make an excellent mouthwash at home. mouthwash mixing equal quantities of 3% hydrogen peroxide and plain water.
  • Try an electric toothbrushWith an electric toothbrush, the brushes rotate while the handle remains stationary. It works like the toothbrush used by dental technicians, and is a perfect tool for those who have...arthritis or a disability that prevents them from using a toothbrush effectively. It's invaluable for those who aren't particularly keen on brushing their teeth properly. And research shows that electric toothbrushes remove much more plaque than manual ones.

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When to do oral hygiene

The dental careDental cleaning, better known as teeth cleaning, should be done regularly once a year. It's essentially a tartar removal procedure that can't be done on your own, at home, using natural methods, and requires the intervention of a specialist. The treatment involves the use of a tool equipped with a metal tip that vibrates using ultrasound. At the end of the painless treatment, a fluoride paste is applied to polish the teeth and restore their brightness.

Chewing gum against plaque acids

Chewing gum has now been accepted as a potential oral health product, particularly for neutralizing plaque acids. As long as it's sugar-free, of course. Chewing gum alone activates the oral muscles and increases the salivationThis way, food residues are eliminated more quickly, and if acidity does form in the mouth, chewing gum tends to buffer it, providing the necessary substances to maintain enamel mineralization. In short, sugar-free chewing gum blocks plaque acids and renders them ineffective. Finally, chewing gum containing potassium tripolyphosphate can prevent and reduce nicotine stains, both on the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth. Of course, this doesn't mean that chewing gum can replace brushing and oral hygiene.

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