Right after a dental cleaning, your teeth look sparkly white, but then you notice that they appear more dull and yellow over time. You have the plaque to blame for this yellowish colour. It’s a filmy substance that accumulates on your teeth and contains bacteria.
Everybody has dental plaque. However, if you don’t remove it, plaque hardens and turns into tartar, leading to cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. While brown or yellow teeth don’t look good, you might not know precisely how to eliminate this discolouration.
When you can practice good oral hygiene, you can help keep plaque off teeth. Keep reading to find out what you need to do.
What is Plaque?
Plaque is quite a sticky, colourless film that can form on your teeth repeatedly. It develops when bacteria in your mouth mix with starchy or sugary foods and make a thin film over your teeth. These bacteria are harmful since they release acids that break down the food particles.
When you are not brushing your teeth at least twice a day, the bacteria, carbohydrates, and acids mix into a sticky film, a.k.a., plaque. The acids produced by the bacteria can also destroy your tooth enamel, resulting in cavities and gingivitis.
If you leave the plaque untreated, it is likely to harden into tartar, which is difficult to remove. However, oral hygiene such as dental flossing can help you reduce plaque off teeth.
How to Remove Plaque off Teeth?
While there are many over-the-counter teeth whitening methods, different strong chemicals can harm your teeth. Here are some of the steps you can follow to keep plaque off your teeth:
- Thoroughly Brush your Teeth
Do you know that most people brush their teeth for 45 seconds only? The more time you spend brushing, the more plaque you can remove. So, it’s best if you thoroughly brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes or ideally 3 minutes.
- Use a Fluoride Toothpaste
Fluoride can strengthen the enamel and prevent tooth decay. You can use a toothpaste containing 1,350 to 1,500 ppm fluoride to protect your teeth against acids and effectively control dental cavities. However, children should use toothpaste specially made for their age. This way, they can get the proper fluoride levels.
- Use an Electric Toothbrush
According to a study, an electric toothbrush with an oscillating–rotating and counter-rotational brush is more beneficial in reducing the chances of gingival bleeding and inflammation than a manual toothbrush. While both manual and electric toothbrushes can effectively remove plaque, you should use an electric toothbrush with a small circular brush to easily clean your teeth.
- Use Dental Floss and Interdental Brushes
Flossing, as you already know, helps clean the places between the teeth that are harder to reach. Moreover, studies show that flossing along with toothbrushing can significantly reduce mild gum disease compared to toothbrushing alone. But interdental brushes take dental cleaning a step further. These brushes look like tiny mascara brushes and help you clean the areas between the teeth more effectively.
- Use Antibacterial Mouthwash
Regularly using an antibacterial mouthwash can not only freshen up your breath and loosen stubborn food particles but also reduce plaque build-up and the risk of cavities. You can use this mouthwash after having lunch or eating a snack.
Do you want sparkly clean Teeth?
You can visit Dentist 4 U in Wollongong or Fairy Meadow.
Apart from good oral hygiene, it would be best to visit your dentist at least twice a year to maintain your oral health. We offer scheduled cleanings and fluoride treatments to help you fight off plaque and tartar.
Contact us today!
