Do you ever notice a buildup of a sticky, stinky, colorless (or off-white) nature in and around the crevices of your teeth? Do you see hard, unmoving deposits of an paler shade of yellow or brown nestled just behind your teeth? If so, you just might have dental plaque, or worse, when it hardens, tartar deposits. You may know these deposits as the ones that cause unbearable cavities and gum disease, which leads to gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, or periodontitis, an inflammation of tissue around the teeth.
More than Just an Embarrassing Inconvenience
Plaque is more than just an embarrassing inconvenience; it isn’t just a sign of bad oral hygiene. Gingivitis and periodontitis, which are conditions caused by plaque, have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. This has been backed up by research made by the American Journal of Cardiology and the American Academy of Periodontology. This is the main reason that plaque and tartar should be taken head on, and not dismissed.
Brush and Floss!
Fortunately, it has never been easier to manage plaque and tartar. Regular brushing and flossing are time-tested ways on how to manage plaque and have better oral hygiene, but sometimes, regular toothbrushes just can’t handle the rigors of plaque and tartar removal. New and technologically advanced toothbrushes have been specially designed to remove twice or thrice the plaque on your teeth; for instance, you will hardly believe that Philips has designed a toothbrush that can remove six times more plaque than a regular toothbrush. Some electric powered toothbrushes run through Bluetooth and have every sort of pressure that is fit for your teeth, you can read all about that at Toothbrush Best.
Flossing is always part of a good oral hygiene regimen as well. Remember to use floss that is suitable to your teeth; whether it be dental tape, waxed floss, or sponge floss, there just isn’t any substitute for this.
Wash your Tongue Out
Using a good mouthwash and tongue cleaner are also essentials of oral hygiene. Cleaning your tongue ensures that there are no bacteria to cause embarrassing bad breath. There are manual tongue cleaners available everywhere, which do the job just fine; still others are built-in with electric toothbrushes such as the Oral-B Black 7000 with Bluetooth, which comes with a setting for cleaning your tongue. As for mouthwash, choose one that lasts long, and cleans stains caused by coffee, tea, or tobacco. Better still, just lay off the tobacco!
Your Dentist, Your Friend>
Make sure to visit your dentist at least once a year; this way, your dental health is monitored, and your tartar buildups are kept in check. Your dentist is your partner, not your worst nightmare!
Is dental plaque as harmless as you think it is? Probably not; dental plaque is linked to certain debilitating and downright dangerous illnesses. It’s not what it wants you to believe. Being religious with your oral hygiene will prevent plaque and tartar buildup, and there is no excuse for you to not brush your teeth, given new technologies in toothbrushes that pretty much take all the work out of it for you. How hard can keeping good oral hygiene be now? There are no excuses left, just action to be taken.
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