How to Prevent Plaque

How to Prevent Plaque

Plaque is a mixture of bacteria and the biofilm they secrete. It's a clear, sticky substance that forms on the teeth every day, and if it isn't brushed and flossed away it can lead to cavities, cause bad breath, and turn your teeth yellow. There are easy ways to prevent plaque from leading to complications that damage the teeth. Having proper dental hygiene, eating teeth-friendly foods and seeing the dentist regularly are the best ways to keep plaque from harming your teeth. Plaque formation can also lead to periodontal disease, which increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and more.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Plaque builds up on the teeth day in and day out, whether we like it or not. The best way to deal with plaque is to brush it away using a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association. You can find a list of approved products at the ADA website. Brush after eating or drinking sweets. Do not brush for 30 minutes after consuming acidic drinks like coffee, orange juice, or soda, which weaken the enamel in your teeth. Never go to bed without brushing your teeth. Doing so gives the bacteria that produce plaque all night to work unimpeded.

Use the correct brushing technique. If you're not brushing correctly, you may be leaving plaque on your teeth even after you've taken the time to clean them. For a thorough brushing: Brush your teeth for 2 to 3 minutes. Brush your teeth with small circular motions or with gentle, short back and forth strokes. Do not scrub hard back and forth. Be sure to brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of your teeth. To clean the inside surface of your front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and use up-and-down strokes. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh. Pay special attention to the teeth in the back that are more difficult to reach, as these are commonly neglected.

Keep your toothbrush clean and working well. A poorly cleaned toothbrush can carry bacteria that contribute to plaque, while a brush that is too old will have damaged or weakened bristles that do a poor job cleaning your teeth. Thoroughly rinse your toothbrush with tap water after use, and do not store it in a closed container, as this may lead to bacteria growth. Replace your tooth brush every 3 to 4 months, as a worn-out brush will not clean your teeth as well. Don't use a brush with hard bristles, since this can be too abrasive on your booth enamel. Consider using an electric toothbrush, as they have been shown to be more effective than manual ones.

Floss your teeth twice a day. Plaque that builds up between the teeth and against the gums cannot be reached with a toothbrush. It's important to floss every day so the plaque trapped between your teeth isn't left to harden into tartar and cause cavities. Choose from waxed, unwaxed, flavored, or tape floss, so long as it has the American Dental Association seal of approval. The National Institute of Health recommends flossing before brushing, but the most important thing is that you floss, regardless of when. When you floss, use the correct technique. Start with about 18 inches of floss. Gently pull the floss between your teeth, taking care not to let it snap against your gums. Curve the floss into a “C” shape against the side of one tooth and gently rub it up and down, keeping it pressed against the tooth. Repeat on the opposite tooth. Use a clean segment of floss before inserting floss between your next two teeth. Don’t forget to floss behind your back teeth. 

Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse. Rinses are designed to kill the plaque that builds up in all the little parts of your mouth that are difficult to reach by brushing or flossing. They have been shown to be more effective than floss in preventing plaque build up. The active ingredient – chlorhexidine, essential oils, Delmopinol, or cetyl pyridinium chloride – does not matter; just be sure to choose a rinse that is labeled "antimicrobial" or "antibacterial." However, do not use chlorhexidine for more than two weeks. Long term use can cause your teeth to acquire brown stains which can only be removed with dental cleaning. It does not matter if you use your mouth rinse before or after you brush and floss.

Limit the exposure of children to fluoride. Most commercially-produced toothpaste contains fluoride, which has been shown to prevent tooth decay. The low amount of fluoride in tooth paste and water poses no proven health risk to adults, but too much fluoride can affect the mental development of children. Accordingly: Do not use fluoride toothpaste in infants under 2 years of age. Use only a pea-sized amount for children older than 2. Avoid fluoride mouth rinses for children under 6 years of age.

Keep dentures, retainers, and other appliances clean. Bacteria can collect on these mouth appliances and contribute to plaque, even if you are otherwise practicing good oral hygiene. Brush your dentures, retainer, or other appliances regularly and occasionally soak them in a cleansing solution to prevent buildup of bacteria.

Check to be sure your dental hygiene routine is working. You can perform a plaque test to make sure your combination of brushing, flossing, and mouthwash is removing all the plaque from your teeth. Your dentist can provide you with a special tablet for the test: Do the test at night, so that any residual red staining on your lips or teeth will be gone by morning. Brush and floss your teeth as usual. Chew the tablet thoroughly for about 30 seconds, then rinse with water. Examine your teeth in a mirror. Plaque that you failed to remove via brushing and flossing will be stained pink or red. If the test shows remaining plaque, you should modify your brushing and flossing technique and repeat the test until you are sure you are removing as much plaque as possible.

Avoid sugary and starchy foods. Plaque requires carbohydrates to form, so to prevent the buildup of plaque, nothing beats saying "no" to food products that contain sugar or starch. If you're serious about preventing plaque from forming, try to limit the following items, especially later in the day when you're about to go to bed: Sweets – If you do eat them, go for ones that clear your mouth quickly like cookies, chocolate, or ice cream. The worst sweets are those that stay in your mouth for a long time, like lollipops, caramels, or cough drops that contain sugar. Carbonated soft drinks – They are the leading cause of tooth decay because they contain lots of sugar, plus phosphoric and citric acids, which wear away tooth enamel. If you do drink soft drinks, using a straw positioned towards the back of the mouth can reduce their impact.

Avoid things that dry out your mouth. Saliva helps prevent plaque, so you don’t want a dry mouth, which can be caused by alcohol or medicines. If medicine is causing your dry mouth, talk to your dentist about getting fluoride rinse to protect your teeth. Many antihypertensive, antidepressant, and antihistamine medications can cause or worsen dry mouth. If you take any medication and experience dry mouth, pay special attention to caring for your teeth.

Eat crunchy fruits and vegetables. You can clean plaque off of your teeth throughout the day without ever pulling out a toothbrush. Crunchy fruits and vegetables like carrots, apples, and pears gently scrape the plaque from your teeth as you eat and also stimulate saliva which reduces the impact of plaque producing bacteria. If you feel a film on your teeth and you don't have a toothbrush handy, try taking a big bite out of an apple with the skin on for instant results.

Consume healthy foods that stimulate saliva flow. Saliva acts as a natural cleanser for your teeth, washing away the plaque. Choose foods that make you salivate as a way to keep plaque away during the day. Dairy products such as milk and cheese are great for stimulating the production of saliva; plus, they contain calcium and other minerals that help to strengthen your teeth. Sugarless chewing gum is another great saliva producer, which also removes food particles from your mouth. The optimal time to chew is 1 minute, after which bacteria begin to be released back into the mouth from the gum.

Drink green and black teas. Both kinds contain polyphenols – compounds that inhibit or kill the bacteria that produce plaque. Brewing your tea in tap water rich with fluoride will further protect your teeth.

Drink water. Drinking water will keep you hydrated so you produce plenty of saliva, as well as helping to clean out your mouth. When your teeth are feeling less-than-clean, try swishing water around your mouth, spitting it out, then taking a long drink. Most tap water also contains fluoride, which will help to protect your teeth from plaque.

Do not smoke or chew tobacco. Smoking does not directly contribute to plaque, but it does heighten the negative impact of any plaque you develop. Studies show that smoking increases the risk of tooth loss and periodontal disease. Chewing tobacco has similar effects due to its nicotine content, as well as directly yellowing teeth.

Visit your dentist once every 6 months. There's only so much you can do on your own at home when it comes to dental hygiene. No matter how careful you are to remove plaque by brushing twice a day, flossing and using a mouth rinse, there may be areas you miss, allowing plaque to harden into tartar, which can only be removed by a dentist. A dentist will also be able determine if there are any other issues with your mouth and teeth that are likely to lead to problems down the road. You should visit the dentist more often if you have a history of cavities, wear braces, smoke or chew tobacco, are diabetic, or have a suppressed immune system.

Have your teeth scaled and planed by the dentist. Scaling is the removal of tartar, particularly along the gum line, which is usually done using hand instruments if tartar is light, or ultrasonic instruments if heavier. Planing uses similar instruments to smooth out your teeth so there are fewer surfaces for bacteria to attach to.

Undergo debridement to remove large amounts of plaque and tartar. If you have not visited the dentist for several years, plaque and tartar may have built up on your teeth to the extent that you need debridement – the removal of large amounts of plaque and tartar through high-pressure water and high-frequency sound vibrations.

Receive additional treatments if necessary. If you have large amounts of plaque and tartar that have led to periodontal disease, your dentist can prescribe topical antibiotics or try other procedures like photodynamic therapy in order to kill the bacteria that cause plaque.

For more details please Contact Us....... Sen's Dental Clinic & Braces Center...... 9830464066 / 9163927966.