1y ago

How do you effectively prevent plaque/tartar forming on your teeth?

My teeth are in good health and I take good care of them, yet I always get this plaque buildup no matter what I try.

I've tried different brushes, toothpastes, and flossing methods to no avail. Mouthwash is too harsh on my mouth and peels my skin off so I avoid that.

I haven't tried waterpicks or electric brushes yet. Did you? Did they work for you? Have you succeeded in preventing plaque and if so, how???

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76 comments

I also had this issue. I was doing everything I could think of to take care of my teeth, but I’d go to the dentist and they would comment about plaque and signs of receding gums. I switched to an electric toothbrush and waterpik. I was actually able to reverse some of the recession (verified by having the dentist take measurements, not notable by just looking)
- That's encouraging, thanks for sharing :)
- For the best gum health, regular string floss is the best thing you can do. A waterpik is not as effective, and don't use those one time floss picks both because they aren't as effective but they're also just super wasteful.
  
  As much as I hate waste, I'm way more effective using the disposable floss picks.
  Edit: spoke with the hygienist during my cleaning today and she said you can be just as effective with the string floss vs the disposable floss picks.
  
  While it's fair to say you may be more effective with floss picks, string floss overall is more effective, and could be for you as well with practice. There is a much greater range of motion with string floss, and you can actually wrap it around your teeth and get close to your gums. I don't imagine this comment will change your flossing habits, and using floss picks is better than not flossing (for your oral hygiene) but I wouldn't use your anecdotal evidence to suggest other people switch to picks or use picks before normal string floss. Not saying you do recommend it, but idk how others would interpret your personal preference as a recommendation.
  
  Just what works for me. From what my dentist says I'll probably just stick with what's been working

76 comments