Monday, April 8, 2013

8 Tips On How To Prevent Dental Plaque

Keep teeth free of plaque, certainly needed some tips. A beautiful smile should be supported by the cleanliness and health of the mouth and teeth. One sign of a healthy tooth is the liberation of plaque deposits. Dental plaque formed on teeth without you knowing it. If left unchecked, plaque potentially threaten the health of your teeth, gums, and mouth.


Dental plaque is attached to the surface layer of the teeth and consists of a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria streptococcus mutans. Plaque can form above the gum line called supragingival. Plaque also can form under the gum line or tooth root, known as the subgingival. Plaque that forms on the gums known as gingival plaque.

Because plaque can form anywhere in the layer of the teeth and gums, it is important to always clean it. Bacteria in plaque release acids that are also potentially erode tooth enamel, causing cavities. Plaque located below the gum line can lead to irritation of the gums known as gingivitis. This can cause the gums to shrink and destroy the tooth structure.

A variety of foods such as sugar, candy, and sticky foods that make plaque worse. Dental plaque can lead to tooth and gum problems and even tooth loss if you are not careful.

Dental plaque can be prevented. Brushing your teeth regularly is the best way to prevent plaque buildup. Brushing teeth should be done at least twice a day. Routine dental checkups will also help reduce tartar buildup. In general, sweet foods should be avoided to reduce dental plaque. In addition, eat a balanced diet and avoid smoking.

Here are tips to avoid the build up of plaque on teeth

1. Brush your teeth twice a day regularly
One of the most effective ways to avoid plaque buildup is to brush your teeth at least twice in a day - after getting up and before going to sleep. Make sure to clean each and every tooth in your mouth, especially the ones at the back. You can also make use of battery-powered toothbrushes for the purpose. However, do make sure to brush for a full 30 seconds, at a time.

2. Don't Forget To Brush Your Gums
One of the common mistakes that people make while brushing is to concentrate on the teeth only and pay no attention to the gum. If you want to prevent plaque formation, it is important to clean the gums as well. Get a soft-bristled tooth brush and use it to clean your gums. While doing this, try to lift your lips from your gums, to allow the brush better access.

3. Cleaning Tongue
Your daily brushing routine should be inclusive of tongue also, apart from the teeth and gums. This is because your tongue has many tiny crevices, where plaque and bacteria can get accumulated easily, causing even bad breath. So, make sure to clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth. You will be rewarded will better oral hygiene, which includes fresher breath.

4. Floss Daily
In case you are wondering as to why use the floss, when we are not only cleaning the teeth, but the gums and tongue as well. You need to be aware of the fact that it is not possible for a brush to reach every nook and corner of the mouth, especially the area between two teeth. This makes it necessary for you to floss on a regular basis.

5. Avoid Between-meal Snacks
As far as possible, try to stay away from snacks in between meals, since the sugar present therein can lead to the growth of bacteria that cause plaque. Around 10-15 minutes after you eat anything, bacteria are the most active. As you eat, you hardly bother to eat drink water afterwards, leave aside brushing your teeth, providing fertile grounds for bacterial growth.

6. Drink Lots of Water
Till now, you were only aware of the facts that drinking water helps bring a glow to your skin and also aids weight loss. However, be prepared to know that it can also help you avoid plaque buildup, by washing out the bacteria from your mouth. So, make sure that you drink plenty of water after a meal or a snack, even taking care to swish it around a bit in your mouth.

7. Eat a healthy foods.
Expand the fruit and vegetables in your diet. Do not forget to drink enough water to overall health and to clean the plaque. Snacks such as cakes and sweets to assist developing plaque weaken tooth enamel.

8. Perform regular dental checkups.
Visit the dentist every six months for regular checkups and teeth cleaning. Your dentist will assess the health of your teeth and recommend the best course.