Plaque is the sticky substance left on your teeth after eating or drinking. Good oral hygiene and a healthy and varied diet can help prevent plaque which can cause tartar if it builds up.
Brush Regularly
Brushing regularly is the best way to prevent plaque build-up. Your teeth should be brushed twice a day, every day. Once should be at night before bed as this is the longest time your teeth will have to build up plaque, and once in the morning or dinner-time if you prefer to eat first. Your teeth should be brushed with a fluoride toothpaste as this prevents plaque and protects your teeth, and you shouldn’t brush too hard.
Flossing Daily
This is the thing that many Americans do not do and it is extremely important as floss reaches places that toothbrushes cannot and prevents plaque build-up in-between the teeth. Flossing gets the plaque out from in-between the teeth before it becomes tartar. It also cleans plaque that resides on the gum line which is another area that brushing may not reach. If plaque grows past the gum line, this can cause periodontal disease and therefore removing plaque by flossing is extremely important.
Regular Dental Check-Ups
The best way to look after your teeth as well as cleaning them is to visit the dentist, a person who is trained to remove plaque and to help you improve your dental hygiene and spot any possible problems. Even with flossing or brushing, plaque can still be missed, and dentists can remove any excess before it becomes too hard. Your dentist will recommend how many times you need to visit for a clean, depending on how well you look after your teeth.
Avoiding Too Much Sugar
Sugar can be the worst way to build up plaque on your teeth. Bacteria loves any sugary food. Eating sweets or drinking anything sugary leads to sugar sticking to our teeth and bacteria breeding quicker. The bacteria form plaque over the tooth by digesting these sugars into acid, which will damage your teeth underneath. Any sugary sweets lead to plaque formation and anything soft or sticky is the worst. We can treat ourselves now and again but ensure that you brush your teeth before you go to bed after eating sugary foods.
If your teeth need to be cleaned by a professional, contact us today to schedule an appointment with the best dentist in New York.