Most of us are pretty habitual teeth brushers. More than 70% of Americans have indicated that they brush their teeth at least twice per day. While regular brushing and dental routines are great for surface gunk, tartar is a lot harder to clean. Food and bacteria form plaque on the surface of your teeth; when this plaque hardens, it becomes tartar. Not all plaque can be removed, even with an excellent brushing routine. So, how can you remove tartar from your teeth? We’re glad you asked.
Start with Prevention
The easiest way to remove tartar from your teeth is never to have tartar in the first place. Of course, this is easier said than done. As it is with most things in life, prevention is the key to a cure. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice per day for two minutes each time. Follow this daily with flossing and a good fluoride anti-bacterial mouthwash. Doing these things will help decrease the tartar buildup you have to get removed during your next dental cleaning.
In addition, avoid diets high in sugars. Excess sugar will increase the number of bacteria in your mouth (they love feasting on glucose). If you are a smoker or tobacco/nicotine user, ceasing to use these products will dramatically decrease:
- Tartar production
- Bad breath
- Risk of oral cancer
Leave it to the Professionals
Even with the best dental habits, tartar is going to occur. The goal is not to eliminate tartar but to keep your tartar under control so that it does not lead to gingivitis, periodontitis, or other gum diseases and oral cancers. The best way to do this is to see your dentist twice every year for an exam, cleaning, and set of x-rays. A dental hygienist will remove tartar that you may have missed with your toothbrush at these visits. As they do this, they will look for signs of inflamed, bleeding, or discolored gums. A dentist will be able to diagnose any diseased area of the mouth and recommend treatment. In addition, both the hygienist and dentist will educate you on the best practices for tartar prevention and removal.
We would be happy to schedule you an appointment at Premier Dental Center in Lockhart. New patient? We offer initial visits, including the first exam, x-rays, and cleaning, for just $59. We are proud to provide Spanish-speaking providers in our up-t0-date facility. We look forward to caring for your smile.