Plaque Causes and Prevention. Useful Tips

Plaque can kill your teeth. Plaque is colorless and sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth.

It is quite noticeable when the teeth are not cleaned or brushed.If you do not wash your mouth properly after your meals, plaque or food particles get trapped into your gums flap, which create yellow color pigment called calculus around the gums.

What are the causes of plaque?

When foods containing sugars and starches such as candy, soft drinks, milk products, chocolate, cakes are eaten often and mouth is not cleaned properly; the food particles are left in the spaces between teeth and gums. Thus attracts bacteria, which produce acids like substances on the teeth. After few days, these acids destroy the teeth enamel and leads to teeth decay. Plague can affect the gums and roots of the teeth, and that can weaken the bones which hold your teeth.

How to prevent plaque?

It is better to brush your teeth twice a day. You must use soft and fine tooth brushes, which do not hurt the gums and teeth. The movement of the brush should not be random or it may hurt your gums. Use a toothpaste containing fluoride, it is one of the best and effective ways to prevent tooth problems and which also improves your oral hygiene. Fluoride helps in strengthening your enamel and avoids bacteria to attack the teeth.
Since time immemorial herbal medicines and products have been found very effective to combat plague. There are potent herbal medicines to cure plague in short duration. There are herbal toothpastes, tooth powder, lotion based on neem. The neem has antibacterial properties that prevent in causing plague. The Neem tree twigs have been used in Asia and Africa from generations as tooth brushes. They prevent tooth decay and gum diseases thereby maintaining oral hygiene. The mouth and teeth can be given a healthy lift with neem toothpaste that has Anise, Peppermint/Spearmint essential oils flavors.
The space between teeth and gums to be flossed at least once to remove bacteria and food particles.
Make a point to visit your dentist periodically every 6 months for check-ups, so you have better knowledge about your oral health and latest condition.
You can use dental sealant to protect the sharp surfaces of your teeth from tooth decay and cavities. Sealants are transparent and white material, which are used on the biting or sharp surfaces of your teeth. But it should be applied according to the advice and recommendation of your dentist.
Try to avoid having too much of starch and sugar based food.
You should have nutritive food, such as fruits, vegetables and yogurt that help in keeping your teeth strong, and activate saliva to neutralize acids causing plague.

Daily Dental Care is imperative

Children should be taught and motivated to keep their oral health better in their early age to prevent dental diseases. They should be given instructions and methods to use tooth brush in right way. They should be given knowledge on oral hygiene, the causes and prevention of oral diseases.

Guidelines on how to brush the teeth

Always use a dry brush.

The studies have indicated that people using soft dry brush without toothpaste are able to reduce more than 65 percent of plague deposits and at the same time reduced their gum bleeding by 50 percent. Start with dry brushing inside the lower row of your teeth, then move to the inner top of the teeth, and finally the outer surfaces of your teeth. After completing the dry brushing about one minute, you must rinse your mouth with clean water and then brush your teeth using tooth paste.

Even the best brush cannot give the desired results if it is not positioned properly while brushing your teeth. Place the brush gentle without pressurizing much on the meeting point of gum and teeth. Wiggle your brush in and out so the bristles can be extended under the gum.

Scrub in medium pressure the biting surfaces on the back teeth.

After completion of the brushing session, you should scrap your tongue using scrapper for about few seconds. You can also use anti-bacterial mouth wash along with the scrapper for better result.

There are different varieties of brushes available in the market, electric tooth brushes, non electric, traditional tooth brush and even high-tech brushes; you can use any one of it by the recommendation of your dentist.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste is also an important factor that helps eliminate bacteria and plague. The fluoride based toothpastes are found to be good for removing bacteria. Neem and other herbal based toothpaste are also found to be really effective in eliminating bacteria and reducing plague.

The most important thing is that you should be conscious and aware about your dental health. If you follow the above mention tips and instructions, you will never have plague.