“Even if you do the basics every day, you’ll still need to see a dentist.”
No matter how good of a tooth brushing person you are, you’re human. Life will cause you to make mistakes in your tooth brushing routine. Your tired. It’s cold outside, and you don’t feel like flossing your teeth tonight. Will doing it the next day suffice? Maybe. But how may days will you decide to continue your routine the next day?
Although you’ve been told by your dentist to brush your teeth twice a day, floss and rinse your mouth, you may have forgotten to do other things to fortify that routine. Your diet and lifestyle have a lot to do with how well your teeth hold up until you see your dentist.
Seeing your dentist regularly ensures that you are up to date on things that may be changing in your mouth. But what does it mean to see your dentist regularly? Well, it’s safe to say that seeing your dentist once a year isn’t nearly enough.
So, is seeing my dentist twice a year good enough? It could be considered good enough if you continue to do the basics every day. Even if you do the basics every day, you’ll still need to see a dentist.
The truth is, it doesn’t take long for plaque to turn into tartar. In fact, it can take 72 hours or less for tartar to start forming. Calculus, also called tartar, is hard material that is bonded to your teeth and can’t be brushed under the rug. In this case, it can’t be brushed off your teeth.
It’s possible for you to reduce tartar buildup with home remedies. This will only reduce it. It will not stop it. Once you have a certain amount of tartar buildup, the only way to remove it safely is to see your local dentist.
Now that you’ve realized that you can’t weasel out of seeing your dentist, lets figure out what’s grinding your gear. Remember, your dentist is there to help, not harm.
Ready to tackle tartar like a pro? Here's the routine:
- Floss – Most people will choose brushing their teeth first over flossing. This is just done out of habit. Flossing first ensures that you'll give it your all. Besides getting in between those hard to reach places, spending time flossing first allows you spend more time on what you want to do, which is brush your teeth.
- Brush – Yes! The main event. Brushing your teeth twice a day, for at least two to three minutes, helps remove plaque and food. You're probably aware of that, but did you know that if you don't brush your teeth for an extended amount of time, plaque can harden and cause calculus? This is something you can't brush away.
- Rinse – The finisher! This is easy. After all of your hard work, rinse your mouth out with mouthwash. That simple. This protects your teeth and also gives you fresh breath.