Like many, you’ve probably heard of plaque. Dentists say it’s a substance that threatens your smile. Still, you may not know exactly what the stuff is. This scenario is risky – you can’t effectively fight something if you don’t grasp its details. Luckily, learning about plaque and how to remove it isn’t hard. Your local Medford dental practice can even explain things. To that end, here’s a primer on plaque and some crucial ways to get it off your grin.
So, What’s Plaque?
Put simply, dental plaque is a sticky film that forms on your teeth. It’s typically made of bacteria, leftover food bits, and saliva. It usually forms when microbes in your mouth mix with sugars and starches.
Far from harmless, unchecked plaque is a threat to oral health. It often causes cavities, gum disease, tooth infections, and worse. Adding insult to injury, the substance can also harden over time and become tartar. Only dentists can remove this latter material, often resorting to unique instruments.
How Do You Remove It?
Normally, it’s not tricky to remove plaque from your teeth. You simply need to practice good oral hygiene. In particular, adopt the practices listed below:
Brush Twice Daily
More than anything else, the best way to remove plaque is to brush your teeth twice daily. Your toothbrush bristles will scrape the gunk off before any damage is done.
Of course, there are ways to make this habit more effective. First, try to use a soft brush head and replace it every 3-4 months. You could also opt for an electric toothbrush. As it happens, this type removes up to 100% more plaque than a manual brush.
Floss Once Daily
Another method for removing plaque is to floss once daily. By flossing between teeth, you’ll keep tartar from forming in tight, hard-to-reach places.
Today, there are several good flossing products. One is traditional floss, which you thread between teeth using the proper steps. There are also floss picks, easy-to-use alternatives that take less work to move. Lastly, another good example is a water flosser. This item uses water to remove plaque from between your pearly whites.
Rinse With a Good Mouthwash
You can also remove plaque by rinsing with mouthwash. This liquid usually has an antiseptic, killing harmful bacteria between your teeth and on your tongue.
Rinsing with mouthwash is a simple latter. First, pour your oral rinse into the cup provided with the product (or a plastic measuring cup). This amount should range from 3-5 teaspoons. From there, use the mouthwash as the product instructs. Your mouth will then be fresh and contain much less plaque than before.
As you can see, knowing about plaque and how to remove it is vital. So, remember the facts above to ensure your smile stays healthy!
About the Practice
Giamberardino Dental Care is based in Medford, MA. Led by Dr. Anthony Giamberardino, our practice seeks to give every patient a healthy smile. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dentistry. Needless to say, then, our team will easily get rid of your smile’s plaque! For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (781)-396-3800.