September 14, 2017 | Dental Health,Dental Tips,
Let’s talk plaque. Your saliva can react with the leftover food particles in your mouth to create a sticky, ‘fuzzy’ film of bacteria. This bacteria can form plaque that attacks the enamel of the teeth, leads to bad breath and decay, and if left unchecked, hardens into tartar.
If you brush and floss daily, and visit the dental team at Dublin Corners Dental twice yearly, you are likely to fend off any problems before they start, there are also some home remedies you can try to beat back the buildup of plaque on your teeth.
1. Baking Soda
People have been swearing by baking soda for years! It’s extremely effective as a deodorizer, it cuts grease (both in the kitchen and even in your hair when used as an alternative to shampoo!) and can even work as a do-it-yourself scrub. Part of what makes baking soda so great at all these jobs is that it helps to regulate pH and neutralize acids.
In terms of your mouth and plaque, baking soda balances the acids in plaque so that it cannot deteriorate the enamel of your teeth. It also counterbalances odors in your mouth, functioning as an easy DIY mouthwash. For this plaque-fighting power of baking soda, mix one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water; swish, spit and rinse.
Baking soda is also natural toothpaste! Due to the abrasiveness of baking soda/water paste as toothpaste, it is not recommended to use all the time; however if used sparingly and infrequently, its abrasiveness allows it to work particularly well at scouring the nasty plaque buildup from the surface of the teeth. Use just one tablespoon of baking soda and add a pinch of salt, dipping a dampened toothbrush into the mixture. Clean your teeth as you usually would, then spit and rinse.
2. Apples
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, and possibly even better (at least as far as we’re concerned at Dublin Corners Dental) an apple a day helps keep plaque at bay! Eating an apple is extremely effective at removing plaque because of the fiber-rich skin and its slightly acidic fruit. The skin of an apple functions as scrub on your teeth, tongue, and gums, helping to take off plaque.
Not only are apples good for your teeth, but they also help fight bad breath! The fruit of the apple is mildly acidic, giving apples an astringent quality that offsets the acids in your mouth and helps to freshen breath!
3. Aged Cheese
While oral bacteria that forms plaque thrives on sugary foods, studies have shown that hard aged cheeses, like Swiss, have plaque preventive qualities. Aged cheese stimulates the production of saliva, which helps to remove the acids generated by plaque causing bacteria.
Brushing and flossing routinely and fighting plaque in DIY-ways at home are key to avoiding cavities and other dental problems, like gum disease, but don’t forget: unchecked plaque hardens into tartar and the only way that can be removed is by a dental professional. Try these at-home methods of fighting plaque, but also come visit us at Dublin Corners Dental. Your biannual cleaning is the best way to make sure your smile is healthy and to keep your oral hygiene habits up to snuff!
Call or request an appointment today!