Who has been the victim of a cavity? Or perhaps that terrible crime of refusing to floss? Or maybe you try everything and still can’t manage to keep that terrible plaque at bay. Plaque is that rough and sticky substance that coats your teeth by the end of each day and eats away at your tooth enamel to create cavities and tooth decay. The result of this fiend is ultimately painful and results in having your dentist fill in this new found hole in your enamel, which is also unpleasant. As a result, those of us susceptible to plaque do everything we can to try to and protect our precious pearly whites. Brushing and flossing are important, but some people want to do more to protect their teeth.
If that’s you, then here are some methods you can use to remove plaque from your teeth:
See the Dental Professionals
No matter what you do, no one cleans teeth like a dentist. Visit your dentist for a professional cleaning twice a year. They will be able to scrape away plaque and tartar that your floss and toothbrush just can’t get.
Use a Water Flosser
A water flosser is an at-home solution that sprays water between your teeth, effectively pushing the plaque off.
Oil Pulling
You can use extra virgin coconut oil or warm sesame oil. Simply swish one or the other in your mouth, pulling it through your teeth for fifteen to twenty minutes. Make sure not to swallow it and be sure to brush your teeth after. You can repeat this daily for best results. It’s not only good for your teeth but good for your gums as well as both have antimicrobial effects to fight the bacteria in the plaque.
White Vinegar
While it’s probably not particularly tasty, white vinegar is antibacterial and will fight the plaque building up on your teeth. Rinse your mouth with a mixture of two teaspoons of white vinegar, a teaspoon of salt, and a half cup of warm water once or twice a day for healthier teeth.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is great at neutralizing acids in your mouth so it removes some of the harmful bacteria. It can also help to scrub gently at the plaque on your teeth. Wet your toothbrush with lukewarm water and dip it in some baking soda. Be sure to brush gently and do not use this method in excess because the grit of the baking soda may damage your tooth enamel.
Guava
It might seem a little strange but guava is excellent at removing plaque. The guava fruit and leaves are antiplaque and anti-inflammatory to both remove the plaque and reduce swelling in unhealthy gums. Thoroughly chew some guava leaves daily or take a salted piece of unripe guava and chew twice a day for a few days. If you’d rather not go buy guava or chew on the salted and unripe fruit you can buy a mouthwash with guava extract instead.
Eat Spicy Food
For those with a low tolerance to spice, you may want to steer clear of this one but spicy foods help to keep your mouth clean. Saliva is our bodies natural way of regulating the acidity in our mouth and keeping the acidity of the plaque on our teeth low. Spicy food will cause you salivate more, therefore keeping your mouth cleaner and more free of the plaque’s harm.
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