Plaque is a soft but sticky substance that builds up on your teeth and gum line. If not prevented or removed through good oral hygiene practices, plaque builds up into a hard-yellowish substance called tartar. Also known as calculus, tartar is an accumulation of minerals from your saliva and plaque.
The best thing you can do for your oral health is brush your teeth regularly with fluoride free toothpaste. The American Dental Association recommends brushing and flossing at least twice a day or after every meal to prevent plaque build-up and ultimately, the accumulation of tartar.
Choosing the right products is the key to keeping your teeth healthy. A good plaque removing dental gel or plaque removing toothpaste will prevent plaque buildup.
If you do experience plaque buildup that results in tartar, you’ll want to opt for a tartar removing toothpaste or tartar removing gel to address that specific concern.
But how do we prevent tartar from building up in the first place? That’s what this article will tell you.
Here’s what you need to know about plaque and how to prevent it from hindering your oral health in the first place.
How Tartar Affects Your Oral Health
Once tartar builds up, it’s much harder to remove. Once you have a certain amount of tartar buildup, it can make your teeth and gums more sensitive when you brush and floss. This can lead to bigger issues if left untreated. More often than not, you may require a dental visit to have it removed.
Aside from having to spend more time and money at the dentist’s office, poor oral hygiene that leads to tartar may also cause other problems such as bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay.
When left untreated, tartar can lead to a serious gum infection called periodontitis. This type of infection affects the soft tissue of your gums, which leads to tooth loss. People who experience periodontitis often have swollen, puffy gums that bleed easily. This can make it painful to chew and can change the way your teeth fit together when you bite.
While periodontitis typically only happens with severe oral health neglect, it reinforces the importance of preventing it from the beginning by regularly brushing your teeth with a tartar removing toothpaste.
According to research, gum disease has also been linked to other severe conditions such as dementia, heart disease, and pneumonia. This makes it highly critical to take good care of your oral health.
How Tartar Affects Your Overall Health
How exactly does tartar lead to these serious conditions? Poor oral health means that there is more bad bacteria in your mouth. That bacteria can travel through your bloodstream and wreak havoc on other systems in your body.
One of the most common connections between oral health and overall health is heart health. One study published in the Journal of the American Heart Associationfound that oral bacteria may contribute to the progression and onset of cardiac health conditions.
In this study, 84% of participants who experienced a stroke were found to have bacterial DNA in their blood clot - 59% of which was a strain of bacteria commonly found in the mouth. This research reinforces the importance of good oral health practices as a means for caring for your overall health.
To avoid these unwanted health consequences, brushing regularly with a tartar removing dental gel or tartar removing toothpaste can keep your teeth (and overall health) in tip top shape.
The Best Way to Avoid Tartar
To prevent plaque from turning into tartar, following good oral hygiene practices and using plaque removing gels are your best options.
Just as important as using the right fluoride-free toothpaste is making sure that you are brushing your teeth at least two times each day for at least two minutes with a tartar removing dental gel.
Electric toothbrushes are also a great option for preventing tartar buildup. Not only have studies found that electric toothbrushes are better at removing plaque, many of them are also made to run for exactly two minutes while you brush your teeth. This ensures that you are brushing for the adequate amount of time.
Healthy Diet & Lifestyle Can Prevent Tartar Buildup
Having a healthy diet and making other healthy lifestyle choices can prevent tartar buildup and promote better overall health. Reducing the amount of sugary and starchy foods you consume can improve your oral and overall health. Bacteria that thrive on these foods can release harmful acids that damage your teeth. You do not need to give up these foods entirely. Just be mindful of how much you consume and remember to drink water and brush your teeth after meals.
Avoid Smoking
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Research, smoking contributes to poor oral health conditions that lead to tartar buildup. We know that smoking is bad for your overall health, but it is also crucial for maintaining your oral health.
Regular Dentist Appointments
It’s also important to schedule bi-annual appointments with your dentist. Even if you have good oral health, your dentist can identify smaller issues and address them before they impact your overall health. They can also provide professional teeth cleaning, which is a key factor in preventing tartar buildup.
How to Use Plaque Removing Gels
We’ve all seen commercials for traditional plaque removing toothpastes, however LIVFRESH Dental Gel has been proven to perform 250% better at removing plaque than the market leader according to a double-blind published study at the University of California, Irvine Beckman Laser Institute.
LIVFRESH removes plaque by repelling bacteria from the tooth surface while creating a barrier to prevent new plaque from attaching to teeth. The gel uses Activated Edathamil, a patented formulation that breaks down existing plaque and provides a deep, long-lasting clean. It is no wonder our dental gel is recommended by researchers, dentists, and key opinion leaders.
For best results, it is recommended that you brush after every meal for at least two minutes. To ensure you’re brushing your teeth for the entire two minutes, try playing your favorite song or setting a timer to get the job done right. Use gentle strokes on your teeth and keep in mind that plaque also builds up on your tongue as well.
Along with brushing twice per day, here are some of the best things you can do to prevent plaque from hindering your oral health:
●Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a quality toothpaste will be much better for your gums and for your overall health.
●Your brushing technique is just as important as the type of toothbrush that you use. Ensure that the inner surface of your teeth and tongue are not neglected. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gum line in order to maximize the cleaning action.
●Besides brushing, flossing regularly is also highly recommended. This habit gets rid of all the gunk stuck between the teeth and below the gumline. Ensure you also use mouthwash to get rid of all the bacteria that the toothpaste may leave behind.
●Try to rinse your mouth after meals to trigger your saliva glands into action. This can help remove food particles that may cause plaque build-up. Swishing water and spitting it out can also dislodge any plaque that has begun to build up.
●Scheduling bi-annual dental check-ups is also highly recommended. Regular, thorough cleanings are critical for your oral health, especially if you suffer from periodontal disease. Your dentist will also catch any other dental problems before they mature into something worse.
Use the right oral hygiene products:
By following these tips, tartar will never be a challenge you face. When you’re ready to take your oral health into your own hands, rely on the ultimate plaque removing gel, LIVFRESH, for all your dental care needs. Shop our full line of oral health products today.