Lessons involving brushing and flossing to keep tartar at bay start when children are quite young. It is well established that eliminating tartar keeps the gums and teeth healthy, but many do not understand what tartar is or how it gets in their mouths. Maintaining your oral health is essential to managing the health in the rest of your body so it is important to understand how tartar forms and how to properly remove it.
Why Is Plaque and Tartar Harmful?
The mouth is an ideal place for bacteria to grow. These bacteria can mix with protein and food remnants, creating a sticky substance known as plaque which can stick to the teeth. This substance can build up in areas like the back of the mouth or between the teeth that are hard to clean. As plaque builds up in this area it can cause acids from the food you eat to stick to the teeth, damaging the enamel and increasing your risk of a gum infection. If this is not managed it can cause tooth decay.
If plaque is not cleared away it can harden into a substance known as tartar. This is even more likely to damage the teeth and gums which could lead to diseases like gingivitis, bone degradation or heart disease as plaque moves into your system.
10 Ways to Remove Plaque and Tartar from Teeth
Notes: Once tartar has formed on the teeth only a dental professional can safely remove it. Schedule an appointment with your dentists to remove tartar and plaque from your teeth every six months to avoid any complications that this substance could cause.
1. Brush Properly
Brushing regularly can help to remove plaque before it builds up and forms tartar. Choose a soft bristled brush and take the time to brush all of the surfaces in your mouth, including places that are difficult to reach like the area behind your molars.
2. Try Electronic Toothbrushes
Electric toothbrushes are found to be more effective in removing plaque than the standard manual versions. Look for a toothbrush approved by the American Dental Association for best results.
3. Choose the Right Toothpaste
Toothpastes with fluoride help to prevent plaque from forming into tartar while repairing damage to the teeth. Products with triclosan that can kill off bacteria may also be helpful.
4. Floss Regularly
Only flossing can help to remove plaque that is forming between the teeth and prevent it from turning into tartar. Watch the informative video below to learn the correct ways to brush and floss your teeth:
5. Mind What You Eat
Starch and sugar feeds the bacteria that form plaque.
- Eliminating sugary foods from your diet and avoiding snacking can help you maintain more easily.
- Drinking water after meals or brushing after eating sugary foods can also be helpful.
- Eating melon or apples after a meal will help to keep the teeth clean by naturally removing plaque. This can also help to improve gum health and prevent oral bleeding.
6. Make Use of Vitamin C Fruits
The amount of vitamin C in your system can impact your overall health. Getting more vitamin C can improve your dental health while helping to remove plaque. Here are the ways you can use vitamin C for this problem:
- Dip your toothbrush into fresh squeezed lime juice and brush your teeth with it twice a day to help remove plaque.
- Rubbing freshly cut strawberries or tomatoes on your teeth and leaving the juice for 5 minutes can also help to remove plaque.
- After applying citrus to the teeth rinse your mouth with a baking soda solution.
- Consuming foods like papaya, bell pepper, orange, lemon, lime or berries can also help you get more vitamin C into your system.
7. Brush with Baking Soda
Baking soda can remove plaque from teeth quite easily. Simply dip a damp toothbrush into a bowl of baking soda and use this to brush your teeth. Adding a pinch of salt to the baking soda can make this even more effective.
8. Gargle with Peroxide Solution
A peroxide rinse can help to remove tartar from your mouth.
To make one, combine a tablespoon of antiseptic mouthwash with 3 tablespoons of a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution.- Swish this mixture around your mouth thoroughly for one minute but do not swallow as this could cause vomiting.
- You might find that your rinse foams while you gargle. If this makes it difficult to continue, spit out some of the excess liquid. This procedure will help loosen tartar that could be stuck to your teeth.
9. Pick the Plaque and Tartar Afterwards
Dental picks are available in stores. These can be used to remove hard tartar that can build up on or between the teeth. Use a magnified mirror with good lighting when using a pick so it is easy to see the yellow tartar. As you pick, spit frequently like you would at the dentist’s office to get the tartar out of your mouth. Do not pick deep into the gum tissue because this could cause irritation or an infection.
10. Avoid Smoking
Studies regularly show that those who use tobacco products are much more likely to have plaque in their mouths and tartar under the gum line.