The Tooth of the Matter: A Dental Blog
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The Tooth of the Matter: A Dental Blog

You only have one set of adult teeth, and they need to last until you are 80, 90, or beyond. The actions you take towards your teeth today will either benefit you or harm you in the future. Of course, good dental care starts with seeing a dentist regularly. You should go in for cleanings and checkups, and any other time you think something might be amiss with your teeth. Education is important when it comes to any aspect of your health, so start reading the articles on this website to educate yourself about dentists and dental care. We promise that when you're 80 and you still have your teeth, you won't regret the time spent.

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The Tooth of the Matter: A Dental Blog

Ways To Keep Your Teeth Their Cleanest

Sofia Curtis

If you are concerned about the state of your oral health, you may be looking for new ways to keep your teeth cleaner. As the teeth become coated with plaque, they are more apt to be ravaged by decay. 

Dental plaque is a filmy mixture of bacteria and particles of food. The biofilm that the bacteria produce gives the plaque its sticky consistency, making it easy for the substance to coat the teeth. 

In addition, the bacteria in the plaque release acid that eats away at the tooth material to decay the teeth and cause cavities. Thus, the cleaner the teeth, the more likely the teeth are to remain in a healthy state. 

Here are a few ways to keep your teeth as clean as possible.

Antibacterial Mouthwash

The antibacterial mouthwash can help reduce the number of harmful microbes in the mouth. The rinse typically includes antimicrobial agents, such as chlorhexidine or alcohol. However, chlorhexidine is often preferred over alcohol because of the drying effects of the alcohol on the soft tissues of the mouth.

With lower levels of bacteria in the oral cavity, less plaque is produced, and the teeth remain cleaner.

Dental Scaling

Dentists scale the teeth during professional cleanings. The scaler, which is a dental scraping tool, dislodges the tartar accumulations from the tooth material. 

Tartar develops as plaque hardens where it lies on the teeth. Since the tartar is no longer soft, it cannot be brushed from the teeth. It must be scraped away.

To keep your teeth their cleanest, tartar accumulations must be regularly removed. If your dental health is good, your dentist is likely to recommend a dental scaling every six months. However, if you suffer from gum disease or other oral health issues, your provider may schedule your scalings more frequently. 

Oral Irrigation

Regular flossing should be a part of your oral hygiene regimen. However, string floss is not the only option for flossing. The concentrated flow of water from an oral irrigator can be applied to dislodge plaque from between the teeth and along the gum line. The water may even clean debris from the area just beneath the gums. 

Like traditional flossing, oral irrigation should be performed daily. Also, to further improve the effectiveness of the irrigator's cleaning actions, a bit of antibacterial mouth rinse can be added to the water in the device's reservoir.

For more ways to keep your teeth their cleanest, schedule a consultation with a dentist at this link: https://www.brooksidedentalgroup.com.


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