Five Ways To Avoid Plaque Build-Up

The build-up of plaque on your teeth is inevitable. There’s no getting away from it, it happens, especially when bacteria build up on your teeth after eating food or drinks with high sugar content. The plaque will eat at your teeth, weakening them over time, eventually leading to tooth decay and gum disease. You can’t avoid plaque, but there are ways to prevent it from becoming a real issue. Let’s look at four of the best ways to avoid the build-up of plaque.

Brush, Brush, (and Brush Again)

Let’s get the easy one out of the way. Whilst it may be common knowledge, brushing your teeth twice a day is not always something we regularly adhere to. According to the NHS, it’s recommended you should brush your teeth at least twice a day to avoid plaque build-up, and that the most important time to brush your teeth is right before bed. It also recommends you should brush them at least once more throughout the day, usually in the morning or after a meal, though there’s no real-time to brush your teeth, the most important part is actually going it. It may seem obvious, but sticking to a strict schedule will prevent the build-up of plaque, which can later lead to tartar, cavities, gum disease and tooth decay.

Get The Bit Between Your Teeth

Plaque can be sneaky. Not content with simply resting on your teeth, plaque likes to hide between them, building up, gathering out of sight between the gaps in your teeth. This is why brushing on its own may not be enough. Dentists now recommend flossing as part of your regular dental hygiene routine, to reach the gaps between your teeth, removing the build-up of the previously unseen plaque.

Swill, Spit, Rinse

Using mouthwash is one of the greatest weapons in your arsenal, in the ongoing fight against the threat of gingivitis, cavities and tooth decay. Swilling mouthwash around your mouth helps plaque move, particularly plaque that is trapped or hidden between teeth. The NHS recommends not using mouthwash immediately after brushing your teeth as it will wash away the concentrated fluid in toothpaste that should stay on your teeth. Instead, it’s recommended you use mouthwash at least thirty minutes after brushing your teeth or at a different time of day, such as after lunch.

Cut The Sugar

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/plaque-causes Whenever you finish a meal, bacteria inside your mouth will rush to the remaining sugars and will feed on them. If you are consuming food or drinks with high sugar content frequently, you are leaving yourself exposed to the spread of bacteria. It’s well documented that sugary drinks and snacks will cause decay, which is why it’s advised that you should eat them only as a treat or on special occasions. Carbonated soft drinks and sweets are the worst offenders, and we recommend you drink plenty of water after eating these, to wash away any sugars left hiding between your teeth.

Here at Acorn Dental Health, our expert dental hygienists will provide you with a personalised dental hygiene treatment plan that is designed for you to maintain good oral health. From teeth scaling and root planning, our oral hygienists can help you prevent gum disease and keep your teeth happy and healthy. Ensuring that you keep your dental hygiene up to scratch is vital for your overall oral health. Contact us today.