Plaque is one of the biggest threats to a healthy smile. This bacteria-laden film weakens dental enamel, and penetrates gum tissue to cause gum disease. Although we can’t completely stop plaque production—a certain amount of plaque is just a natural byproduct of living—there are things that we can do in order to minimize the amount of plaque that is allowed to build up on our smiles.
In this short article our O’Fallon dentists are giving you some simple tips that will allow you to keep plaque at bay!
We’ve already established that there is no way to completely stop plaque production. So, the next best thing is to clean plaque off of your smile as quickly and regularly as possible.
· Brush morning and night (as recommended by your dentist)
· Floss once a day—ideally at night before bed
· Use mouthwash if necessary
· Rinse your mouth with water throughout the day in order to dislodge newly formed plaque
There are also some things that you can throughout the day in order to make it harder for plaque to become entrenched in your smile:
· Drink plenty of water so that your body is able to produce saliva—saliva is your body’s natural way of fighting plaque and remineralizing teeth
· Snack on crunchy vegetables—like carrots and celery; these veggies are high in water content, which helps to hydrate you, and the physical act of chewing these veggies will scrape plaque from your dental surfaces
And, obviously, in order to minimize the amount of plaque that multiplies in your mouth, try to limit the amount of sugary and carbohydrate rich foods and drinks that you consume. Plaque loves to feed on these things!
Our dental team is here to help you develop an effective daily oral hygiene routine, and to provide the professional treatments that you need to stay well. So please call our O’Fallon dentists if you need more information about fighting plaque day to day!