The importance of plaque and tartar control in dental hygiene can not be overstated. If you take care of your teeth from a young age, you will not have to solve other common tooth related problems and would not have to seek out for bad breath treatment.
There is often confusion in how plaque and tartar are related and how they differentiate from each other. Here we provide a small guideline to help you identify and control these persistent “tooth devils.”
Plaque control
The deposits of plaque constantly form on the surface of your teeth and is characterized by a sticky, colorless substance. Fluids from drinks, saliva and food particles combine in the mouth to form plaque deposits which build up and form where the gums and teeth meet. The build up of plaque over a long time, can cause the teeth to stain and is known to be the primary cause of gum disease and bad breath.
Good dental hygiene becomes very important when dealing with plaque and good practices should be learned as a child in order to take care of your teeth on a daily basis. If plaque is not controlled, it can also lead to the weakening of the teeth enamel and then causes cavities.
Plaque starts forming on the teeth immediately after brushing, which is why you need to brush your teeth regularly. It is recommended that you brush at least three times per day and again after meals. You should also floss daily to get rid of the plaque build-up between your teeth, in the places where your toothbrush can not reach.
Tartar control
Tartar, also known as calculus, is a hard and crusty substance that forms on and around the teeth where the plaque has been sitting for a long time. It is made up of calcium and phosphate which combines to form hard crystals on the teeth. With the forming of these crystals, it can also cause tooth discoloration as it traps the stains and colors that existed in the food and drinks that caused the original plaque build up.
The strong bond to the teeth, that is typical of tartar can only be removed by a dental professional and not through brushing or flossing. The treatment involves a chemical called pyrophosphate that decreases the build up and stops the growth of these hard crystals on the tooth surface.
Prevention
As you grow older, you become more susceptible to the build up of plaque and tartar on your teeth. It is therefore of paramount importance to take very good care of your teeth as you grow older. The best solution of course is to teach children good dental hygiene practices from a young age, so it becomes second nature as they move into adulthood. If these foundations are laid solidly, it will also prevent them from having to solve other tooth related problems later in life.
To prevent plaque build up changing into tartar, follow the instructions mentioned earlier about brushing and flossing. As a further preventative measure, you should also:
If you follow these guidelines in the prevention and control of plaque and tartar build up, you will avoid many other problems and issues related to dental hygiene. Prevention is better than cure, any day of the week!
There is often confusion in how plaque and tartar are related and how they differentiate from each other. Here we provide a small guideline to help you identify and control these persistent “tooth devils.”
Plaque control
The deposits of plaque constantly form on the surface of your teeth and is characterized by a sticky, colorless substance. Fluids from drinks, saliva and food particles combine in the mouth to form plaque deposits which build up and form where the gums and teeth meet. The build up of plaque over a long time, can cause the teeth to stain and is known to be the primary cause of gum disease and bad breath.
Good dental hygiene becomes very important when dealing with plaque and good practices should be learned as a child in order to take care of your teeth on a daily basis. If plaque is not controlled, it can also lead to the weakening of the teeth enamel and then causes cavities.
Plaque starts forming on the teeth immediately after brushing, which is why you need to brush your teeth regularly. It is recommended that you brush at least three times per day and again after meals. You should also floss daily to get rid of the plaque build-up between your teeth, in the places where your toothbrush can not reach.
Tartar control
Tartar, also known as calculus, is a hard and crusty substance that forms on and around the teeth where the plaque has been sitting for a long time. It is made up of calcium and phosphate which combines to form hard crystals on the teeth. With the forming of these crystals, it can also cause tooth discoloration as it traps the stains and colors that existed in the food and drinks that caused the original plaque build up.
The strong bond to the teeth, that is typical of tartar can only be removed by a dental professional and not through brushing or flossing. The treatment involves a chemical called pyrophosphate that decreases the build up and stops the growth of these hard crystals on the tooth surface.
Prevention
As you grow older, you become more susceptible to the build up of plaque and tartar on your teeth. It is therefore of paramount importance to take very good care of your teeth as you grow older. The best solution of course is to teach children good dental hygiene practices from a young age, so it becomes second nature as they move into adulthood. If these foundations are laid solidly, it will also prevent them from having to solve other tooth related problems later in life.
To prevent plaque build up changing into tartar, follow the instructions mentioned earlier about brushing and flossing. As a further preventative measure, you should also:
- Have your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist every six months
- Have your teeth checked by a dentist for any potential problems at least once a year.
- Use a toothpaste that contains pyrophosphate. This chemical will adhere to the surface of your teeth and inhibit the growth and formation of calculus crystals.
- You can also brush your teeth with a toothpaste that contains sodium hexametaphosphate, which is a pyrophosphate that has been specially formulated to not only inhibit the forming of calculus, but it also loosen and breaks the bonds of existing stains. This will do two things. It will whiten your teeth and it will create a protective barrier to prevent further staining.
If you follow these guidelines in the prevention and control of plaque and tartar build up, you will avoid many other problems and issues related to dental hygiene. Prevention is better than cure, any day of the week!
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