Products for Removing Plaque From Teeth

Knowing which products to use for removing plaque properly, can make a big improvement in your oral and overall health. According to WebMD, people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease (also called heart disease). Plaque is a layer of bacteria that continuously forms on your teeth. If it is not removed daily, it will harden and become calculus.

Brushing Teeth

• A soft bristled toothbrush can decrease the amount of wear that occurs to gum tissue.

  The basic step for a clean and healthy mouth is to brush your teeth at least twice a day. When you choose a toothbrush, make sure your brush has soft bristles. This will decrease the amount of wear that is being put on the surrounding gum tissue. Electric toothbrushes are extremely effective in removing plaque from teeth. Brush your teeth using a small circular motion for at least two minutes, twice a day.

Flossing

• Floss can help remove plaque that forms in between teeth.

  Floss is an effective tool to use when trying to access those hard to reach places in between teeth. Flossing after brushing will help to alleviate any plaque that a regular toothbrush could not remove. Tear off a piece of floss approximately eight inches long. Wrap the floss securely around your middle fingers. Guide the floss in between each tooth by using your thumb and pointer finger to maneuver it. Wrap the floss around the tooth and use an up and down motion to remove any plaque that is present.

Proxybrush

• A proxybrush is an excellent product for people who have braces, implants, bridges and crown work present. The bristled tip of this brush comes in different shapes and sizes. The cylinder or tapered shapes allow the patient access into small narrow areas that are hard to clean. Insert the brush tip into the area to be cleaned. Turn the brush tip clockwise and counterclockwise to remove the plaque. Rinse off the end of the brush with warm water.

Plaque Disclosing Tablets

• You can double check to see if you have been effective in your cleaning attempts. Once you have brushed, flossed and used a proxybrush, a plaque disclosing tablet can be chewed. This tablet will secrete a red dye across your mouth. The dye will stick to and color any plaque that is remaining. This will allow you to have a visual indicator of the areas that you need to concentrate on a little more while you are cleaning. You can remove the red dye by simply repeating the cleaning process.