Building Confidence With Dental Beauty

Tartar can really distort your smile, as it might be visible and very unsightly, which is something most people want to avoid. Not only for the sake of your appearance, but also because tartar can lead to serious dental ailments like gingivitis. The following guide will help you remove tartar as well as show you how to prevent it.

Prevent Tartar

Tartar is a buildup of plaque residue that is made up of food byproducts and proteins that coax your teeth and gums. You should keep in mind that tartar houses all sorts of bacteria that are ready to consume some of the foods that you eat. They digest this food and release acidic byproducts that may damage your teeth over time.

Considering the following to prevent tartar naturally, besides staying away from tobacco:

• Limit your consumption of sticky or starchy food, like candy or dried fruits, as they tend to stick to your teeth and may leave residue for bacteria to thrive on.
• Consider eating foods that are crunchy, like apples or certain vegetables, as those will help scrape off any plaque or tartar buildup.
• Be sure to consider foods with citric or malic acid, as these tend to stimulate salivation, and saliva contains bacteria-killing properties. These acids are also mildly abrasive and whitening, so they should give you a brighter smile.

You can talk to your dentist about other things that you can do to keep your teeth safe from the dangers of tartar.

Getting Rid Of It

Tartar may indeed be prevented, but that does not mean it cannot show up on your teeth. You should know what to do about that, too. The following are a few tricks that may help get rid of tartar momentarily. Just remember to visit your dentist as soon as you can to check for any dental damage:

• Rub the inside of an orange peel over your teeth, and the vitamin C content should help lift the tartar off your teeth and kill some bacteria.
• Use about a tablespoon of baking soda mixed with enough water to make a paste as your toothpaste. The abrasive nature of baking soda should break down tartar and remove it.
• Chew on some sesame seeds without swallowing them; then brush your teeth with a dry toothbrush using the sesame seeds to scrub off the tartar.

For more information, contact Arrowhead Family Dentistry or a similar location.