8 Natural Ways to Fight Back Against Plaque

Plaque is a common dental problem that should not go unnoticed. Apart from being rather unsightly, plaque can also worsen, and lead to more serious ailments. There's an extensive range of products you can use to get rid of it, but did you know there are also some great chemical-free natural remedies you can use to prevent or help treat its formation? Now is the time to get better informed about the matter.

First of all... What is plaque?

Plaque (also known as dental biofilm) is formed as a result of substances gathering in our mouth after eating or drinking, appearing as a white or pale yellow "slime layer" between the teeth and along the cervical margins (the surface touching the gum). The substance consists of food debris, bacteria, and bacterial waste, possibly leading to oral complications such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

Although the formation of plaque is normal for everyone and cannot be stopped, controlling it is one of the most important things in dental care. This is because plaque may become acidic, leading to the demineralization of the teeth or tartar.

What is tartar?

If plaque remains untreated, it can harden and turn into what is called tartar or calculus. It can form both along the gum line, and also within the narrow sulcus, found between the teeth and the gingiva. Tartar may be the cause of bad breath, receding gums, and chronically-inflamed gingiva, as well as the further formation of plaque.

When plaque becomes tartar, it becomes far more difficult to remove and would require clinical help. Tartar formation is not only connected to oral hygiene, but also tobacco use, drugs, age, diet, and genetics.

What can you do to treat and prevent plaque build-up?

There's a lot you can do to prevent plaque from forming on your teeth and leading on to something more serious, such as tartar. To begin with, it is important to get checked regularly by a dentist to make sure your teeth and gums are in good shape. Secondly, we recommend that you try some of the best natural techniques that can rid your mouth from plaque in some simple steps. Here are some excellent methods that are tried and tested: 

THE 8 NATURAL REMEDIES FOR PLAQUE
1. Brushing with baking soda and salt

The combination of these two ingredients is one of the safest and most effective ways to help you eliminate plaque. Combine one tablespoon of baking soda and half a teaspoon of salt in a bowl. Dip a wet toothbrush into the mixture and brush your teeth with it. Repeat this a few times to achieve great results.

2. Munching apples

One of the solutions is in your very own dessert. Snacking on apples or melon just after a meal is one of the best natural ways of cleaning your teeth and gums from remaining bits of food, as well as eliminating plaque.

3. Rubbing orange peel

Before brushing your teeth, grab a piece of orange peel and rub the inner (white) part against your teeth's surface for about two minutes. Performing this ritual on a regular basis will not only render your teeth polished and whitened, but will prevent plaque build-up due to the vitamin C found in the orange peel.

4. Using other fruit rich in Vitamin C

In addition to oranges, there are various other fruits that can do wonders for your dental health. Opt for Vitamin C-rich fruit, such as strawberries, to boost your immune system and help fight off oral infections. Take full advantage of their benefits by rubbing them against your teeth and consuming them.

5. Scrubbing with sesame seeds

Sesame seeds may also help you get rid of plaque, due to properties that enable them to act as a great abrasive to clear and polish your teeth. Simply grind them against your teeth, then remove the leftover pieces using a dry toothbrush.

6. Brush with coconut oil paste

Surprisingly, coconut is incredibly beneficial for your dental health. Protect your teeth from plaque by combining two tablespoons of virgin coconut oil and two tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl to make a paste. Then, use the paste as a natural toothpaste to reap the effective benefits. Feel free to also add any essential oil of your choice to the mixture (such as peppermint).

 

7. Using aloe vera

Just as aloe vera is great for our skin, it's also perfect for soothing our teeth and gums. Studies have shown that aloe vera can improve plaque and periodontal conditions and maintain hygiene in our mouth. Simply apply some aloe vera to your toothbrush and use it as toothpaste.

8. Rinse with hydrogen peroxide

The properties of hydrogen peroxide make it ideal to be used for oral health. Make a mouthwash consisting of three parts water (or prepared mouthwash) and one part 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Swish, gargle and rinse well for one minute daily. This will act as an astringent and teeth whitener, as well as help remove plaque and loosen tartar. 

Remember some other important tips: 

•    Brush your teeth regularly and effectively: If you want to avoid plaque accumulation, take this as a rule of thumb. Use a soft-bristled brush and brush up and down, carefully reaching and brushing each tooth.
•    Visit your dentist regularly: Don't forget to get your teeth checked every so often.
•    Drink water: Water is a way of rinsing your mouth from food particles after eating a meal. Make sure you drink enough water each time.
•    Don't forget dental flossing: Use dental floss to clean the areas between your teeth at least once a day (although twice is ideal).

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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10 ways you can prevent dental cavities

Your tooth is one of the hardest parts of your body. But that doesn’t make it resistant to bacterial attack. Cavity causing species of bacteria convert the sugar from the food we eat into acids which demineralise and destruct the enamel of the tooth to create cavities in them. Luckily, preventing tooth cavities is equally easy. Here are ten ways to prevent them:

Brush and floss daily
Preventive measures to any oral health problem begin with good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride. Floss once or twice a day preferably after dinner. Flossing removes plaque from areas that the toothbrush can’t reach i.e. between your teeth and under the gum line.

Drink water or rinse mouth with water after eating
You can’t brush every time you eat. But you sure can drink water or at least rinse your mouth with water every time you do so. Water neutralises the effects of acidic and sugary foods. Rinsing removes food particles left behind on/ between the teeth.

Eat a healthy balanced diet
A healthy balanced diet is a solution to most of our health problems. A diet high in refined carbohydrates like breads, biscuits, etc. puts you at a risk of tooth decay. Avoid sticky foods such as candies, etc. which get stuck in the pits and grooves of your teeth. Sweets and chocolates are not the only ones with sugar. Beware of ‘hidden sugars’ in food which also could cause tooth decay. Increase your daily intake of fruits and vegetables.  They remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth and gums.

Avoid frequent snacking
What exposes your teeth to abuse is not how much you eat, but how often you eat. Every time you eat, bacteria convert the carbohydrates in the food into acids that can dissolve your tooth enamel. By snacking throughout the day, you make your teeth susceptible to constant bacterial attack. Hence avoid eating high sugar, high acid foods between meals. Diet soda may have no sugar but the acid in it can be dangerous to your tooth enamel. If you have a sweet tooth, it’s best to have sweets at meal times!

Regular dental visits
Visit your dentist once in six months for regular check-ups. He/she will be able to check for conditions in the mouth that may put you at risk of developing tooth decay. The initial signs of cavity can be reversed if detected early. If advised, get a professional cleaning or scaling done.

Get sealants placed on your teeth
Wouldn’t sealing off the grooves and fissures of teeth from acid and plaque protect them from getting cavities? Yes, it would. And dental sealants do just that. Your dentist may apply protective coating called dental sealants to the biting surfaces of the back teeth.

Fluoride treatment

Drinking fluoridated water reduces the incidence of tooth decay. However, in most parts of India, non-fluoridated water is consumed. Hence it is recommended to use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride gel may be applied by your dentist if you are very susceptible to cavities.

Use a mouth rinse
Brushing and flossing takes care of all the food debris and plaque in your mouth. But what about the harmful bacteria hiding in inaccessible places? That’s where the mouthwashes play a role. Use antibacterial mouth rinses after brushing to kill the harmful bacteria associated with cavities and reduce plaque in your mouth. If you are more prone to cavities, use a mouth rinse with fluoride.

Chew sugar-free gum
Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after eating or drinking stimulates saliva which washes away food particles and helps to prevent cavities.

Get your dry mouth treated
Dry mouth (Xerostomia) may be caused due to dehydration, anxiety, mouth breathing, smoking, certain medications, etc. It may also be caused by autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome which damage the salivary glands. Tooth decay is very common in dry mouth. Identifying the underlying reason of your dry mouth can help in treating it thereby preventing further damage to your teeth from cavities.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement