How to Protect Your Teeth from Tartar

The key to keeping your teeth healthy is to clean them daily. Removing bacteria from your mouth is important for a long lasting healthy smile. You have been to the dentist at least once in a lifetime and the number one “lecture” that you always hear is “brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss your teeth at least twice a day.”

Well, there is actually a reason for that lecture every time you go in and no, it’s not because the we like to hear themselves say it over and over. We tell you this so that you are keeping your teeth healthy and strong and protect them from plaque and tartar that we know will damage your gum tissue and your bone. We don’t want to see you lose your teeth.

Protecting your teeth from tartar is not all that difficult. You want to start with removing plaque from your teeth. To do this, we recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush or an electric toothbrush. Brushing your teeth isn’t difficult but many people don’t actually know how to brush their teeth. You want to start by angling your brush at a 45 degree angle and brushing in circles. You want to do this on the outside of the teeth and the inside of the teeth. This will take a few times before you master it but eventually it will be second nature to you. Also, you need to spend at least two minutes brushing. You also want to remember to brush your tongue and your cheeks as well. Plaque does accumulate on your tongue and cheeks which causes the bad odor.

Next, comes flossing. Now, you can floss at least twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Some dental professionals recommend flossing before you brush, some recommend brushing than flossing and some even recommend flossing before and after. You do what is comfortable to you and as long as you do it we are happy. The proper way to floss is to wrap the majority of the floss on one index finger and wrap the floss once around the other index finger. You shape the floss like a “C” and slide it between your teeth and glide it up and down the tooth and go under the gum tissue wrapping the used floss on the opposite index finger. Now, you want to go along every single tooth even behind the last tooth because plaque does accumulate behind the teeth.

The use of an antimicrobial mouth rinse is great to use in conjunction with the brushing and flossing but remember this is to be used with brushing and flossing not just by itself.

There is a product that you can find on the market that actually stains the plaque for you to brush off. Listerine has a great product for kids on the market and you can use it to help detect where the plaque is and where you need to brush. The way you use this is by swishing this in your mouth and spitting it into the sink, then brushing and flossing. After you have done this, then you use the rinse again to make sure you have gotten rid of all the plaque. This is time consuming but, will help you in the long run.

Protecting your teeth from tartar is hard work but will make you have a beautiful smile and hopefully will make you spend less time and money at the dentists office. Everyone will be happy with that result. Ask your hygienist or dentist to show you how to brush and floss the next time you are in we enjoy showing our patient’s how to care for their teeth.

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