Good health includes, among other things, good dental hygiene. Moreover, many people tend to neglect this aspect of their health until they have plaque and tartar that can later lead to more serious dental problems. Fortunately, there is a simple and natural trick that eliminates and prevents plaque buildup and white teeth!
How to differentiate plaque from tartar?
The terms "dental plaque" and "tartar" are commonly used interchangeably, but they are two different things. Dental plaque is a transparent, sticky film that forms on and between teeth, above and below the gumline. Tartar is a hard calcified deposit that forms on the teeth and is due to the accumulation of food, saliva, and plaque for a long time.
The formation of dental plaque requires bacteria, carbohydrates, food particles and saliva. After eating a carbohydrate-containing food, these foods combine with the normal bacteria in the mouth to create an acid. The latter then combines with the old food particles and saliva in another chemical reaction that makes this substance sticky and hard. This substance is dental plaque.
Problems and risks
Over time, without daily brushing or regular consultation with the dentist, the acids in the mouth begin to break through the tooth enamel, destroying it and causing tooth decay. Tooth decay can lead to dental abscesses. If dental plaque develops on the roots of teeth under the gum line, the acids can alter the bone that supports the tooth.
Plaque near the gum line can also lead to gingivitis, a benign form of gum disease that can eventually cause more serious inflammation of the gums. In this case, dental plaque produces toxins that irritate the gums, causing them to swell, bleed and become infected.
Dental plaque that remains on the teeth for a long time becomes calcified and becomes a hard and dense substance called tartar. Tartar is difficult to remove and must be scraped by a dentist or dental hygienist.
To fight plaque and have healthy, white, and decay-free teeth, here's a simple, natural home remedy that uses only two ingredients you already have at home.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of sea salt
- 2 teaspoons of baking soda
- Water
Preparation:
Put the spoon of sea salt in a small glass or cup, then add the two teaspoons of baking soda, then slowly add a teaspoon of water and mix thoroughly to obtain a homogeneous paste that should be firm enough to fit on your toothbrush.
Now, all you have to do is brush your teeth with this mixture for about three minutes trying to reach all your teeth. Then rinse with warm water.
Repeat this procedure twice a week, in addition to your regular oral hygiene routine, to eliminate and prevent the formation of plaque.
Benefits of ingredients
Sea salt
Calcium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, sodium, nickel, and iron are some of the many trace elements and minerals found in sea salt. These nutrients strengthen the gums, protect against tartar and bad breath and can even whiten your teeth over time. Rich in iodine, sea salt has antibacterial properties and helps neutralize acids in the mouth. Salt makes you salivate, and your saliva creates an antibacterial barrier that protects your enamel and teeth from tooth decay.
Baking soda
Baking soda has long been considered the natural way to whiten teeth. It is lumpy enough to clean your teeth of dental plaque that damages the enamel.
Baking soda is highly alkaline and, as such, it neutralizes acids in the mouth that cause tooth decay, kills bacteria and germs and fights bad breath.
Caution :
Baking soda has a slightly abrasive effect, and its excessive long-term use can weaken and scratch tooth enamel.