The cornerstone of excellent dental hygiene and a lifetime of healthy smiles is the successful prevention of the buildup of tartar. The biofilms, which notoriously cling to your teeth and gums every day, are the harbors for all types of oral bacteria—specifically, the harmful ones that lead to things like tooth decay and gum disease. Most people recognize that preventing tartar buildup requires good hygiene practices at home. Yet, many people miss the little things in their routine that make prevention successful.
Can You Do More to Protect Your Gums’ Health?
Most people think of their teeth, when they think about healthy and beautiful smiles. But where would your teeth be without healthy gums to support them? Your gums’ health is imperative to maintaining a lovely smile as you age, so make sure you are doing all you can to protect both your teeth and gums through proper preventive care. From your daily hygiene routine to regular preventive checkups, are you taking good care of your gums by removing all of the plaque and tartar?
Make Sure Your Daily Hygiene Routine Is Sufficient
Daily tooth brushing is important to keeping your teeth cavity-free, and your gums healthy. However, flossing is also essential to maintaining great oral health. That is because brushing regularly leaves bacteria and food particles behind, stuck between teeth where the toothbrush’s bristles are unable to reach. Flossing, however, is able to reach between the teeth, helping to remove more harmful plaque bacteria.
You may already know that good hygiene depends on brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once. However, even with that knowledge, many patients might skip a cleaning once in a while, especially on a particularly busy day. The danger is that missing even one session can give oral bacteria a chance to multiply, making them a much bigger threat to your oral health. Skipping a session also allows plaque to harden into calculus, or tartar, which your toothbrush and floss can’t remove. Also consider tongue scrapers which have been shown to be the most effective means of removing bacteria from the tongue. Make sure that you are taking good care of your toothbrush.
The Role of Checkups and Cleanings is to remove Plaque and Tartar
Routine dental visits are also essential to keeping the teeth and gums healthy for the long-term. Most patients need to visit the dentist twice a year, for both checkups and cleanings, to adequately prevent oral health issues. Are you overdue for a preventive dental care visit?
However, if you have been diagnosed with gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, or have struggled with frequent cavities in the past, your dentist may actually recommend more frequent visits to help clean the teeth and properly protect the gums. In some cases, periodontal therapy may also be recommended to help restore the gums health, in the case of inflammation or infection, as are common with gingivitis.
When tartar forms, the bacteria that it harbors remain on your teeth and gums producing harmful substances, like toxins and acids. These substances are the driving forces behind issues like tooth decay and gum disease. To remove tartar, you have to attend a professional dental cleaning, during which your dentist or hygienist can effectively clean away tartar and reduce your risks of developing destructive dental issues.
Learn More About Better Plaque and Tartar Control
Are you worried about developing cavities? Controlling plaque and tartar are the cornerstones of keeping your smile healthy and beautiful for life. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Lake Forest Dental Arts in Lake Forest, IL, at 847-234-0517. We also proudly serve residents of Chicago and all surrounding communities in the Chicago Metro area.