How to Get Rid of Plaque on Your Teeth?

All of us have been there. Feeling that sticky, colorless film which constantly forms on our teeth and gum line. It’s just there, sometimes really bugging us. It’s there after every time we eat and if we don’t take care of it, it can cause pretty serious problems down the way.

We, who take care of our teeth are pretty much aware of this already. Plaque and its calcified form, tartar are things we constantly have to battle in order to maintain our dental health and ensure that our whites are sparkly and pearly all the time.

Everybody has to deal with this, unfortunately, there are no exceptions. For some, it’s not a big issue, while others, who feel uneasy about visiting the dentist might often ask the question: “How to get rid of that nasty plaque on my teeth? I just want my teeth to be healthy and to avoid sitting in the dentist’s chair because of something serious”.

Well, if you are one of the latter, Doral Sedation & Family Dentistry has all your answers, just keep on reading.

Plaque and Tartar

As stated above, everyone develops plaque because the growth of bacteria in our mouths is constant. The problem is, that when we don’t remove plaque (it’s a colorless sticky film which is hard to see) from our teeth and gum line, it can irritate our gums and even cause inflammation.

Tartar, on the other hand, is a visible mineral buildup which is yellow or brown in color, located between the lower front teeth or at the gum line.

The Potential Harms

Plaque (this mass of harmful germs) can lead to pretty serious dental problems such as tooth decay or gum disease.

Puffy, bleeding, and red gums are usually signs of gum disease which is often the result of plaque or tartar buildup. Apart from causing constant inflammation, gum disease can also destroy the tissues holding your teeth in place and eventually, they will be lost.

The biggest problem is that dental plaque is hard to detect unless it’s stained. Chewing “disclosing tablets” found at drug stores and using cotton swabs to smear green food coloring on your teeth may help with this. The red or green color left on the teeth will show where there’s plaque left – and also, where you need to brush a little more in order to remove it.

Removing Plaque

Floss- Using dental floss and rinsing to remove germs and food particles between teeth are the best first step you can take. Just be easy with it and ease the floss into place gently. Harsh movements, like snapping it into place can potentially harm and hurt your gums.

Brush Your Teeth – Use any method that feels comfortable but make sure not to scrub hard back and forth. Also, make sure to use fluoride toothpaste which protects teeth from tooth decay.

Brush your tongue too – It gives a refreshing feeling and removes bacteria from it.

Food residue (especially sweets) serve as a great nutrient source for germs that cause dental problems. This is why it’s fairly important to brush your teeth and remove residue and plaque from your teeth. Brush at least twice a day and floss once the protect your dental health the best you can.

Tartar Buildup

Calcified plaque is much harder to remove and only dentists can remove it properly. While there are a lot of home remedies out there claiming to do the job just fine, it’s better to stay on the safe side and leave it to professionals. Some of these remedies can be potentially harmful and would even cause more damage to your teeth.

The takeaway

As said before, dental plaque is something everyone has to deal with but luckily, with incorporating few healthy dental habits into your everyday routine, plaque won’t be a source of problems.

However, if you have any questions or concerns regarding plaque or tartar, feel free to reach out to us. We’re here to answer all your questions and help you get you that lovely smile you’ve always wanted.