How to Reduce Plaque on Your Teeth

Plaque on your teeth can be an ugly and unsightly problem. Plaque is the combination of dead and living bacteria that grows on your teeth and can become hard if it isn't removed on a regular basis. It is said that 50 percent of the plaque on your teeth starts to harden after 48 hours and becomes rock solid ( turns into tartar) after 12 days. Eeewww! There are a few reasons why you don't want plaque or tartar to become regular fixtures on your teeth. Plaque and tartar both make your teeth look and feel disgusting and not to mention it gives you bad breath. Plaque on your teeth along with tartar can both lead to more serious problems such as the gum disease Gingivitis. Here are some preventative measures you can take in order to reduce plaque build up on your teeth.

Brush, Brush, and Brush Some More

Your toothbrush is an easy to use "weapon" against plaque that you should use after every meal if possible. Brushing your teeth will significantly interrupt the growth of plaque bacteria on your when done correctly. Experts say that brushing your teeth from side to side is incorrect. In order to brush your teeth correctly and get rid of plaque you should hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle where the teeth and gums meet. This will give you the best friction and be the most effective at getting rid of plaque on your teeth.

Start At The Back

In order to be the most effective at reducing plaque on your teeth, you need to start brushing at the back of your mouth. The back lower teeth is where plaque does most of it's hiding. A lot of times when we brush, we focus on our front teeth in order to ensure a pearly white smile. When getting rid of plaque we should do the opposite and do most of our brushing at the back of the mouth.

Use The "Two Minute Rule"

Studies show that most people brush their teeth for about 30 seconds. In addition, most of that is spent brushing the front teeth really fast and then giving the back a quick "one, two" treatment. 30 seconds is not a long enough time to properly reduce the plaque build up that is accumulated everyday. We should slow down and spend 2-4 minutes in order to effectively reduce plaque build up on our teeth.

Here are some more tips to use in order to reduce plaque.

- Buy a brush that fits comfortably in your mouth
- Choose bristles that are soft and rounded
- Make sure to floss correctly
- Use Listerine. This has been proven to reduce plaque with and without brushing.