Plaque is the sticky, colorless bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth.  The bacteria feeds on sugars that it receives from food and forms acids that slowly eats away at tooth enamel and can cause cavities.  Once plaque builds up enough, it combines with the minerals in your saliva to calcify into a rough deposit called tartar.  Tarter cannot be removed by normal brushing, instead a dentist must remove it once it has formed.  To prevent plaque, you must undergo regular preventative care that involves daily brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist.  Continue reading for more information on how to prevent plaque buildup on teeth.

Preventing plaque

More specifically, preventing plaque is not a one-day process.  Rather, it is an ongoing task in which diligence and discipline is a must.  The first step to preventing plaque buildup on teeth is to brush your teeth regularly, meaning at least twice a day.  Brush over every tooth multiple times and don’t forget to brush the harder to reach areas as well.  To get the hard-to-reach foods stuck between the teeth, floss after each meal or snack to loosen food particles and reduce the chances of plaque building up in your mouth.  A dental pick can also help with this.  More than just your teeth need to be cleaned.  Clean your entire mouth including your tongue using a tongue scraper or even the back of your toothbrush to ensure no plaque builds up on your tongue.  This plaque can contribute to mouth conditions such as gingivitis if not removed, so be thorough.

Another extremely important step to preventing plaque buildup on teeth is to ensure you eat a healthy diet.  Foods like fruits and vegetables and sticking to drinks like water can be great for your overall health and can help to wash away plaque.  If you can, avoid sweets such as candies and other sugary things as these allow plaque to thrive, as they weaken tooth enamel.

Finally, get regular dental checkups (at least twice a year) to get your teeth examined and cleaned.  Your dentist can help give you tips and products to reduce plaque.  If you are looking for a reliable dentist, consider using TalkLocal to find a top-quality dentist in your area.  This free service will connect you to up to three highly rated dentists within minutes who are willing to help.

This entry was updated on Tuesday, June 9th, 2015 at 10:38 am. This entry was originally posted on Monday, August 27th, 2012 at 6:00 pm and is filed under Dentists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.