The two most common oral care problems people hear about are Plaque and Tartar. While they are related, they are both very different maladies that need different kinds of treatment.

Plaque

Plaque is a sticky, colorless, soft substance that builds up around the gum line. Plaque is film of bacteria made up of food particles and saliva, and it collects on your teeth every day. Plaque hurts your teeth and gums because it can cause cavities, periodontal disease, and gingivitis, and it can harden into Tartar if it isn’t removed each day.

Plaque causes cavities because of the acid contained within it. It attacks your teeth enamel after you eat, and if it does this long enough without being cleaned, it can break through the enamel, giving the cavity a place to take hold. Plaque also irritates the gums – if your gums bleed when you brush or floss, this could be because of plaque. If you don’t take care of this, the gums will pull away from your teeth, which may cause you to lose a tooth.

Luckily, Plaque can most easily be removed with daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Plaque forms within eight hours, so make sure you brush before bed, too.

Tartar

Tartar is yellow or yellowish brown. It’s hard, porous and crusty. It can be very unsightly, and forms along the gum line. Tartar is made up of hardened plaque that hasn’t been brushed away. It is hard because it comes from the mineral deposits in saliva.

Tartar is harmful because it’s hard and porous – bacteria build up inside the tartar on your teeth. It also causes cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. If tartar isn’t removed it will continue to grow and calcify.

Tartar is not as easily removed as plaque. It can only be done professionally, by a dentist. Tartar is removed by scaling it – instruments are used to remove tartar from teeth. If the tartar has formed below the gum line, then you may have to get surgery to remove it. The best way to prevent all of this is through vigilant brushing and flossing. Tartar control toothpaste has also been shown to help.

1.Proper brushing takes at least two minutes — that’s right, 120 seconds! Most adults do not come close to brushing that long. To get a feel for the time involved, try using a stopwatch. To properly brush your teeth, use short, gentle strokes, paying extra attention to the gum line, hard-to-reach back teeth and areas around fillings, crowns or other restoration. Concentrate on thoroughly cleaning each section as follows:

2.Clean the outer surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth

3.Clean the inner surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth

4. Clean the chewing surfaces For fresher breath, be sure to brush your tongue, too.

A toothbrush is used for cleaning one’s teeth.

However, using an improper brushing technique can actually cause you to harm your teeth! In such cases, dentists call this “toothbrush trauma.” The wrong brushing technique may cause and/or worsen defects on the tooth necks.

If the toothbrush is scrubbed back and forth across the teeth horizontally, the bristles of a hard toothbrush may cause or increase a wedge. Dentists call this a toothbrush trauma. Sometimes, however, the gums are injured as well; gum injury can also be part of a toothbrush trauma. Excessive brushing may cause the gums to recede.

Discoloration – Since the dentin of the tooth is exposed during tooth erosion, discoloration or yellowing of the teeth can occur.

Tooth Sensitivity – Sensitive teeth are very common symptoms of tooth erosion because the enamel that protects the teeth wears away, leaving exposed dentin.

Rounded Teeth – During the early stages of tooth erosion, it is common for teeth to have a rounded look.

Transparent or Sand Blasted Appearance – It is not uncommon in the early stages of tooth erosion for the teeth to have a sand blasted look or for the tips of the front teeth to look transparent.

Advanced and Severe Symptoms of Tooth Erosion

Cracking – If tooth erosion continues into the advanced stage, the edges of the teeth can start to crack and have a rough feeling.

Dents – Little dents, also called cupping, can start to appear on the biting areas of the teeth.

Extreme Sensitivity – Since the enamel wears away during tooth erosion, the teeth can become extremely sensitive during the advanced stages of tooth erosion.

Many people simply have sensitive teeth. It’s a condition that is also frequently experienced by those who have recently undergone a dental procedure.

Sensitive toothpastes are specially formulated to address this problem. They contain ingredients (usually potassium nitrate or stannous fluoride) to prevent sensitivity so you feel little or no discomfort when brushing.

Some people report that using a whitening toothpaste makes their teeth more sensitive. For this reason, many tooth-whitening pastes are now formulated for sensitive teeth.  Also, you can also help protect your sensitive teeth by using a soft or extra-soft bristle toothbrush in conjunction with sensitive toothpaste. This will help you feel comfortable enough to maintain your oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing.

If your sensitive teeth are due to a temporary condition, such as recovery from a dental procedure, you might consider using a sensitive toothpaste during your recovery and then resume using your previous favorite toothpaste when your teeth have returned to normal.

Good dental hygiene habits should begin before your child’s first tooth comes in. Wiping your baby’s gums with a soft damp cloth after feedings helps to prevent the buildup of bacteria. When teeth appear, start using a soft children’s toothbrush twice a day.

Once your child is preschool-age, start using fluoride toothpaste. Don’t cover the brush with toothpaste; a pea-sized amount is just right. Young children tend to swallow most of the toothpaste, and swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can cause permanent stains on their teeth.