If you think brushing your teeth, flossing, and using mouthwash is enough think again.
Despite your good hygiene your mouth has bacteria. They blend with by-products of food and proteins and form a gluey film known as plaque. They do all the works and sticks to everywhere in your mouth. And because it has bacteria, it could very well destroy your tooth enamel which eventually result to cavities. That is why it is important to remove it as early as possible. Don’t wait for it to harden. It takes 24 to 72 hours for it to hardened and then turn into tartar. It is also known as calculus. It seats in the gumline and this could cause your gum to recede.
There are at least 68% of adults that have tartar n their mouth. And you have more chances to have it if you wear braces, have crowded teeth, dry mouth, smoke and when you are older. And it does develop very quickly with age.
Early detection of plaque
It is important to visit your dentist at least twice a year as issues like tartar is not always easy to see. It could be a pale yellow or colorless which makes it more difficult to spot. But the dentist could. They have dental mirrors that can reach the areas you cannot reach. They could likewise use a dental scaler to take them off. Ask your dentist some more tips on avoiding the plaque build-up.
What does tartar do to our teeth and gums?
Since tartar is hard, brushing and flossing could be more difficult. If tartar develops on top of your gum line, that is bad news. This can damage your gums and leads to a worst condition, gum disease!
The mild version of gum disease is gingivitis but that can be remedied by good dental hygiene. Do the regiment before your gums and teeth could be infected and progress to periodontitis . And this leads to teeth lost.
More tips to fight Tartar:
- Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 to 3 minutes tops. Use toothbrush that has soft bristles so it does not damage your gums and teeth. Make sure that bristles is the right size to enter your mouth especially if your mouth is small. Brush everywhere even to the back molars.
- Use powered toothbrush to take care of the plaque. It works better than a manual brush. Just make sure it has an American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. This will tell you that it was inspected and is safe to use.
- Use toothpaste with fluoride to fix enamel damage. You can choose other brands that has triclosan to fight bacteria.
- Floss to remove plaque between your teeth.
- Use antiseptic mouthwash every day.
- Take a look at your diet. Bacteria just loves sugar that is in sweets, fruits, chocolates, cakes and ice cream. Carbohydrates food that has sugar or starch like soft drinks, candies, and milk. So limit your intake of these in your food. Wash down what you eat with a lot of water.
- Stop smoking. It causes tartar.
- Visit your dentist to help you with your dental issues.