Removing Plaque and Tartar on Teeth

Plaque is a soft and sticky layer of living and dead bacteria, mineral salts from saliva, and food. This layer gets collected on teeth (including fillings and crowns), gums, and the tongue, and if not cleaned for 48 hours, it hardens by 50 percent. If you let plaque remain on teeth for more than 12 days, it becomes rock hard and is called calculus or tartar. Plaque and calculus not only make teeth look ugly and cause bad breath, the bacteria in them cause tooth decay (cavities) and gum diseases like gingivitis. In addition, unfortunately, one cannot remove tartar. Prevention is therefore the only way to deal with plaque and tartar. The most important thing to do is brush your teeth twice a day and use the right technique to brush. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle at the region where your teeth and gums meet, and move in small circles. One must brush slowly and for about two to four minutes. A round bristled brush is always better, and it should be small in size so that it reaches all the corners. Flossing the teeth is as important as brushing.

There are many ingredients that help in removing plaque and tartar from the teeth. Baking soda is an important product in dental hygiene. You can mix a tablespoon of baking soda and a pinch of salt in a cup of water, dip your brush in this, and scrub your teeth. Even just dipping the toothbrush into box of baking soda before brushing helps. You must also use a mouthwash without fail. Whether you use it in isolation or after brushing teeth, it always helps keep plaque and tartar at bay. You can also make your own mouthwash: take 3 % hydrogen peroxide and water in equal quantity and use as mouthwash. Mixing ½ cup soda, four teaspoons of glycerin, one teaspoon of aloe vera gel, and 10 drops of lemon essential oil in a cup of water also makes for an effective mouthwash. You can also use powdered black tea to brush your teeth in order to remove plaque effectively. Tartar can be removed easily by brushing your teeth with a mix of vinegar and salt. Mix the two judiciously to form a paste that you can brush with. Vinegar too has the potential to kill bacteria, and can be diluted to prepare a mouthwash. Mix two parts of powdered alum and one part of powdered salt and brush your teeth with it.