How to Clean Plaque With Tools
If you have a build up of plaque or the beginnings of a build up, you need to declare war on it and take back the health of your mouth. Plaque is a nasty substance which is the main cause of cavities and gum disease. According to Colgate.com, if not treated aggressively and immediately, plaque can harden into tartar. While professional dentists can remove plaque with more sophisticated tools, you can use slightly more basic tools to remove plaque at home. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Small new toothbrush
- Cavity fighting toothpaste
- Floss
- Water pick
- Wooden plaque removers
Instructions
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Dampen a small headed toothbrush that easily fits comfortably in your mouth, adding a dab of cavity and plaque fighting toothpaste onto it. Instead of making up and down and right and left movements with your brush, hold the bristles at a 45-degree angle to the surface of your teeth. Make tiny circles, as if you were polishing the exterior of a car.
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Scrub the back of the teeth with your toothbrush using this technique. Plaque often hides at the back of the teeth.
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Wrap one end of a long piece of waxed dental floss around your right forefinger and the other end around your left forefinger. Wrap the dental floss around either finger until you have a 2 inch piece of floss stretched between two hands.
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Push the floss between teeth, making sure to rub it against all spots of the tiny surface area. Coil the floss to reveal a new section of floss and move onto a new section of gums. Continue in this matter until you've covered your entire mouth. Rinse your mouth out with water. This is one of the most effective ways to remove plaque.
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Fill the dispenser of a water pick with fresh water. Turn the water pick onto medium and spray the area between teeth, where plaque is likely to form with the water pressure. Be careful not to make the pressure too hard, as it can hurt gums.
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Use wooden plaque removers for stubborn areas of plaque. Wood plaque removers are strong enough to push plaque off your teeth, but won't damage enamel. Push the pointy end of the plaque removers between your teeth at your gumline. Rub it gently back and forth against the enamel. Rinse it off and go on to the next tooth. Continue in this manner until you've covered your entire mouth.
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References
Resources
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