Get to Know More on Tartar and Plaque Removal This Christmas Season

Dec 01, 2020

During this Christmas season, you’ll be exposed to special treats, and some will contain a sticky and sugary diet. However, your dentist may recommend avoiding acidic, sugar-laced foods, and sticky foods that can easily lead to plaque and tartar formation. Poor oral hygiene may lead to bacterial infections and affect your overall health. Plaque is a sticky film that forms on your teeth and below your gum line. Plaque build-up may result in tartar that requires specialized treatment through dental scaling.

How Plaque and Tartar Forms

Dental plaque is a microbial film that’s sticky, and it deposits on your teeth if you don’t floss or clean them regularly. Food debris, saliva, and sticky soft drinks deposit beneath your gum tissues and teeth surfaces. Plaque contains bacteria, which produce acids that erode your tooth enamel if it’s untreated—Tartar forms when the plaque build-up becomes more advanced. Tartar and plaque deposition has severe implications for your oral health. The bacteria may severely damage your tooth and lead to the formation of cavities and cause toxins that cause periodontal infections.

It is crucial to visit the dentistry near you and seek consultation on removing plaque and tartar. Regular teeth flossing and brushing can remove dental plaque, but tartar can’t be easily eliminated. Dr. Terrie Cribbs uses specialized instruments to perform dental scaling and polishing to remove tartar. A Scaling procedure is vital in removing plaque, while polishing keeps your tooth surfaces smooth.

Causes of Dental Plaque and Tartar

Sugary foods provide a thriving site for bacterial growth, and the latter results in the deposition of debris on your gum tissues and teeth. Candy, soft drinks, and sucrose facilitate the action of plaque. Plaque bacteria causes gingivitis, periodontal diseases, and dental caries, and you need to seek treatment to prevent further damage.

Plaque is found between your teeth and beneath your gum line, and it’s essential to maintain proper oral hygiene to prevent its accumulation. Plaque and tartar result in various conditions, including:

  • Development of cavities since plaque leads to the production of acids that eats away your enamel.
  • Accumulation of plaque causes an infection that causes inflammation of your gums.
  • Plaque build-up leads to bad breath.

How to Prevent the Formation of Tartar and Plaque

The ideal way to prevent plaque formation is by embracing the right dental health regimen and staying proactive in preserving your oral tissues. However, regular cleaning and flossing are not fully effective. Regular dental exams are vital in preventing tartar build-up. During your routine visit, your specialist will examine your teeth and scrape them to ensure they are plaque or tartar free. Below are vital tips you should follow to prevent plaque and tartar formation:

  • Brush your teeth regularly to remove dental plaque and prevent tartar. Ensure you use soft-bristled toothpaste to avoid hurting your gum tissues. Try to reach out to all grooves and rear molar chewing surfaces.
  • Visit your dental specialist regularly and undergo professional cleaning. An electronic toothbrush can be used for plaque removal.
  • Undergo routine dental cleaning and fluoride treatment to reverse the action of decay and help repair your enamel. Our dentist in Knoxville may recommend using fluoride-based toothpaste and avoiding using highly abrasive toothpaste to clean your teeth.
  • Floss regularly to remove food debris and plaque between your teeth and prevent the formation of tartar from your oral tissues.
  • Rinse your mouth regularly with recommended antiseptic to kill bacteria that cause plaque.

How to Remove Plaque and Tartar?

There are two main approaches used to eliminate plaque from your teeth, and they include using antibacterial solutions or mechanical motion of flossing and brushing. At TLC Dental Care, we use an electric brush to get rid of plaque effectively. It’s vital to maintain regular dental floss to ensure no food particles are stuck between your teeth, and the dental specialist near you can teach you how to floss appropriately. Anti-plaque toothpaste is useful in fighting plaque. Tartar build-up bonds with your enamel, and it requires a professional technique to remove it.

If you have a dental issue attributed to plaque or tartar build-up, ensure you schedule a dental appointment with the dentist near you and find a suitable treatment. Early treatment will protect your teeth from undergoing an extensive dental procedure in the future. The dentist near you have specialized tools that are useful to remove tartar, and it will be ideal for visiting this Christmas.

865-247-5570 Request Appointment