How to get rid of plaque?

Most of us do neglect our teeth at times. For large portions of our lives we fail to listen to their clear requirements: limited Coca Cola, regular brushing, flossing etc.

But we like Coca Cola; the Coca Cola marketers have spent billions associating their sugar-filled brand with spectacularly healthy people to ensure we do. And not one rotten-toothed person in sight.

However for us, maintaining proper oral hygiene and visiting a dentist periodically is essential to ensure that we don’t face any severe dental problems, for instance, a plaque buildup.

What is plaque?

Plaque is a sticky, colourless film of bacteria that loves nothing better than latching onto our teeth and gum lines. Some types of plaque cause tooth decay while others cause gum disease.

Plaque, if not removed, turns into tartar or calcified or hardened plaque which is a mineral buildup that attaches to the enamel on your teeth and below the gum line. Tartar is fairly easy to see in the form of a yellow or brown deposit between the lower front teeth or at the gum line.

How to get rid of plaque?

That’s the big question. Dental plaque is difficult to see unless it’s stained. Plaque can be stained by chewing the red disclosing plaque tablets available in local drug stores. Stain and examine your teeth regularly to ensure your teeth are eliminated of plaque.

Here are 5 ways to get rid of plaque and stopping the plaque buildup.

One: Brush properly

That means circles, not vigorous back and forth strokes. It also means decent, but not overt pressure. You don’t need to attack your teeth with menacing intent to get a good clean; in fact, that can do more harm to gums and soft tissue than good.

Brushing your teeth too hard can make your gums bleed. Find out how you bleeding gums can be a result of a plaque buildup in our previous blog post.

Two: Use fluoride toothpaste

Ignore all the gimmicky fad toothpastes; only use proper, branded fluoride toothpaste because fluoride is the stuff that actually protects your precious teeth from decay.

Three: Brush your tongue

Not only will this give your mouth an even fresher, clean taste, you’ll remove any food residues that can slide onto teeth and cause plaque.

Four: Floss

We’ve all heard it a hundred times in our lives, but most of us ignore this simple tip that goes a long way in maintaining good dental hygiene. Flossing regularly. If you don’t attack those all-important gaps between teeth, you’re giving plaque the perfect foothold to build an imposing wall of bacteria.

Five: Use a dental pick

Dental picks can do a similar job to floss if you make them part of your regime. A thin plastic or wooden stick that some restaurants hand out or can be bought from a grocery or drug store goes a long way in helping remove plaque between your teeth.

How to prevent plaque on teeth?

Here are simple tips that can help you in preventing plaque buildup in the first place:

• Brush your teeth twice daily
• Floss between your teeth
• Use a mouthwash that targets plaque
• Avoid sugary and starchy foods.

It is essential that you schedule at least two regular dental visits each year for dental examinations and professional cleanings.

If you’d like to expand your interest in dental into a professional career, our HLT35015 Certificate III in Dental Assisting course would be perfect for you! Alternately, you can check out some of our other Dental courses. Enquire now or call us on 0738669513 to speak to one of our career advisors for more information today.