When attending your annual dental exam and cleaning, your dentist may notice an excessive buildup of tartar and plaque on your lower front teeth. Your bottom front teeth (incisors) are more prone to buildup because they are some of the most challenging teeth to clean due to their shape and location.
Most standard toothbrush heads cannot easily access the curvature of your front lower teeth to clean the surface properly, allowing plaque to develop. Because your teeth are also located close to the salivary glands under your tongue, the minerals in your saliva deposit on the plaque biofilm, leading to tartar development.
At Caputo Dental, we provide quality preventative dentistry treatments to prevent and address tartar buildup and maintain your oral health. We can also advise on good hygiene habits to prevent plaque and tartar from developing.
Learn how you can protect your oral health at home.
Maintain a Regular Dental Hygiene Routine
Regular brushing and flossing is the best way to remove plaque from your teeth and prevent it from hardening into tartar.
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to help remineralize your teeth and strengthen the enamel.
- Switch your manual toothbrush to an electric model with a smaller oscillating or ultrasonic head to ensure you reach every tooth’s surface.
- Floss twice a day after brushing, and use a floss threader to reduce gum irritation and ensure you access all the hard-to-reach areas of your lower front teeth.
- Rinse your mouth with an anti-plaque mouthwash once a day, and rinse your mouth with fresh water after eating.
Visit Your Dentist
In addition to sticking with a strict hygiene regimen, you should also have regular appointments with your dentist every six months.
During the dental exam, your hygienist cleans your teeth to remove tartar buildup on your lower front teeth and the rest of your mouth. Tartar is different from plaque; the hardened calculus can only be removed by your hygienist or dentist using a manual or ultrasonic scraper. Your dentist can also access tartar buildup below the gum line to prevent gingivitis.
Avoid Sugary Snacks
The bacteria found in plaque feed off the sugars and carbohydrates in the food particles in your mouth. Foods containing high sugar levels, like candy, baked goods, and soda, mean there is more sugar for the bacteria to consume. Bacteria produce acid as a byproduct of their metabolism, which can erode tooth enamel and lead to decay.
Try to avoid or significantly reduce your consumption of high sugar foods. If you eat sugary snacks, rinse your mouth with water, then wait 30 minutes before brushing to allow your enamel to remineralize.
No Smoking
Smoking damages the gums and reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth, allowing for harmful bacteria to reproduce. This results in plaque buildup, which can cause permanent damage to your bottom front teeth and gums and your entire mouth.
Quitting smoking can help preserve your oral and general health. Talk to your dentist or primary care physician about quitting and what resources are available, including patches, medications, and tracking apps like the National Cancer Institute’s Quit Smoking app.
Get Quality Dental Care at Caputo Dental
Tartar and plaque buildup can lead to serious oral health issues, including tooth decay and gum disease. Preventative care, including regular brushing and flossing, can help you avoid buildup on your lower teeth and the rest of your mouth.
For treatment and oral hygiene advice, contact Caputo Dental at (630) 922-1311 and schedule your next appointment today.