How to Prevent Plaque Build Up
Preventing plaque build-up is an integral part of maintaining good oral health. Your dentist helps you in this goal through general dentistry and preventive care, just as you employ good oral hygiene at home. Together, you and your dentist prevent problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath.
How to Prevent Plaque Build Up
For how to prevent plaque build-up, you need to apply some effort. This effort starts with asking yourself on a regular basis, “Are my teeth and gums in good health?” Also, visit your dentist for general dentistry twice yearly for his answer to this question.
You certainly need good oral hygiene to prevent plaque build-up. Good oral hygiene involves four critical steps, including:
- Brushing your teeth thoroughly twice daily
- Flossing each day
- Maintaining a healthy diet
- Visiting your dentist twice a year for general dentistry services
Brushing Your Teeth Thoroughly Twice Daily
You have many types of toothbrushes to choose from for your at-home teeth cleaning. The best toothbrush is a soft-bristled one. Soft bristles cause less damage to your gums while brushing.
Also, look for a toothbrush with bristles at multiple angles or those designed for getting into small crevices. These do a more thorough job of removing plaque from between your teeth.
Flossing Each Day
Just as you need to brush your teeth twice daily to prevent plaque build-up, you also need to floss each day. This method of cleaning between teeth removes food, debris, and plaque from these tight spaces. Although you should floss at least once daily, try to make a habit of doing so after each meal.
Maintaining a Healthy Diet
Eating right and avoiding sugary treats, soda, and between-meal snacks will help you prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Avoiding foods that do not positively enhance your diet with nutrients helps your oral health as much as your physical health. This means avoiding cakes, chocolate, candies, cookies, soft drinks and other foods loaded with sugar.
You need to avoid sugar because it creates an environment perfect for plaque. Sugar leads to tooth decay and gum disease, feeding bacteria that damage your teeth and gums. Eating plenty of vegetables and fruits gives your whole body what it needs for good health.