If there’s one thing your Utah dentist wants you to know, it is how vital daily oral hygiene is. Taking care of your teeth is easy and makes a world of difference in your overall health. If having a healthy smile is important to you, prioritize taking care of your teeth and protecting them from diseases and injuries. It takes some work to have a beautiful smile.
Brushing twice daily and flossing once daily is your best defense against tooth decay and cavities. You must also visit your Utah dentist regularly for routine checkups and cleanings to remove that pesky plaque and calculus you can’t get off yourself. Some people are more prone to plaque than others based on unique genetics. Those people may even need a dental cleaning more often than the recommended every six months.
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What is Dental Calculus?
Our daily lives consist of eating many foods, drinking liquids, and exposing our teeth to various textures. All of the different things we consume build a layer of plaque on the surface of the teeth, which is a sticky substance. Lots of plaque means unhappy gums. When we forget to brush and floss regularly, the plaque gradually hardens. When the plaque hardens, it turns into calculus or tartar. If not treated and removed correctly, the calculus and tartar lead to bad dental conditions.
Calculus affects not only the teeth but also the gums. Buildup can lead to various gum infections and cavities.
How to Remove Calculus
Luckily, either your dentist in Weber County or Davis County knows how to remove the calculus collected on your teeth. Most of the methods we suggest are things you can do alone, in the comfort of your home. However, sometimes plaque or calculus buildup gets so bad that visiting a dental professional is the only way to combat it. Here are the five basic ways to remove calculus from your teeth:
1. Brushing Daily
We say it often, but that’s because it is vital—brush, brush, brush. Brush for at least two minutes, morning and night, using a soft bristle toothbrush to avoid harshness on the gums.
Brushing your teeth is the best preventative action to avoid getting that calculus in the first place. Brushing should not be a sporadic habit. You should not just brush occasionally or when you feel you “need” it. Brushing should be a set part of your routine every single day. Whether at home, on vacation, or at a friend’s house, you should have an electric or manual toothbrush to brush in the morning and before bedtime.
2. Use a Calculus Removing Toothpaste
One of the best ways to remove calculus while brushing is to use a calculus-control toothpaste. These types of toothpaste have active pyrophosphates and fluoride to help kill bacteria in the mouth. The lack of germs and bacteria in your mouth will leave your teeth clean and lessen your chance of getting cavities.
3. Regular Flossing
Flossing is often the most overlooked daily dental habit, yet removing lodged food particles from your teeth is essential and necessary for tooth health. It is tough to reach certain parts of your teeth when brushing. Floss helps to get those in-between spots and acts as a teammate with brushing. Brushing lays the dental groundwork, and flossing comes in to finish the job. These healthy habits help to prevent bad breath as well.
4. Brush with Baking Soda
A mixture of salt and baking soda is an effective home remedy to remove calculus, but you should only use it occasionally. Using baking soda too often can wear down your tooth enamel. The baking soda and salt will soften calculus, making it easier to remove.
Smoothly rub the mixture with your toothbrush, then wash your teeth with lukewarm water. Finish by gargling. The mixture is antibacterial and kills germs in the mouth. Only use this remedy around once a month, once a week at the most.
5. Go to the Dentist
Your dentist in Utah wants to see you at least twice a year. These visits are necessary to maintain proper oral care and remove any extra calculus you can’t remove yourself. A dentist uses advanced tools and technology to remove plaque and calculus quickly and efficiently. The process of eliminating calculus is called debridement.
During debridement, your dental hygienist or other dental expert will use an ultrasonic or hand-held scaling tool. The ultrasonic instrument uses high-frequency vibrations and water to remove all the calculus.
Having a healthy smile is all about preventative care and healthy dental habits. You can do so much on your own at home to prevent calculus, cavities, gingivitis, and other dental issues. Do all you can to keep your mouth clean, and we will do our part at your regular dental cleanings to get rid of extra calculus and plaque buildup. Let’s work as a team to keep your smile sparkly, clean, and cavity-free.