So far, there have been no reliable studies to show its effectiveness. However, the ADA does not recommend this practice for removing plaque and tartar. It involves swishing, or pulling, an edible oil around in the mouth through the gaps between the teeth. Oil pulling is a folk remedy said to remove bacteria from the mouth and improve oral health. Research from 2017 suggests that baking soda can significantly reduce the amount of S. Streptococcus mutans, for example, is a bacteria primarily responsible for tooth decay.īaking soda also has antimicrobial properties that may prevent tooth decay. The mouth is home to a diverse ecosystem of bacteria, some of which are beneficial while others can be harmful. When the pH drops below this range, demineralization begins to occur.īaking soda reduces demineralization because it has a high pH, which can help balance the pH level inside the mouth and prevent enamel loss. The lower limit for enamel pH ranges between 5.1–5.5. The lower the pH, the more acidic the substance. Scientists measure the acidity of a substance using the pH scale. While still abrasive, baking soda toothpaste is not as hard as the enamel that makes up teeth and can remove plaque without damaging the enamel.Ī 2017 review suggests that toothpaste that contains baking soda may be more effective at reducing the amount of plaque in the mouth than traditional toothpaste.Īnother review from 2017 published in the same journal found that toothpaste containing baking soda falls within safe dental abrasivity levels, meaning that they are unlikely to harm tooth enamel.īaking soda also protects against demineralization, which is a chemical process that removes calcium from tooth enamel.Ĭarbohydrates from food can drastically lower the pH level in the mouth, creating an acidic environment that causes demineralization. The best prevention of building up calculus on your teeth is thorough brushing and flossing at least two times a day along with 6 month preventative care appointments with your dentist and dental hygienist.Brushing with baking soda can safely and effectively remove plaque. Calculus buildup can be removed with ultrasonic tools or dental hand instruments (such as a periodontal scaler). Brushing and flossing can remove plaque from which calculus forms however, once formed, it is too hard and firmly attached to be removed with a toothbrush. Calculus can form both along the gumline, where it is referred to as supragingival (“above the gum”), and within the narrow sulcus that exists between the teeth and the gingiva, where it is referred to as subgingival (“below the gum”).Ĭalculus formation is associated with a number of clinical manifestations, including bad breath, receding gums and chronically inflamed gingiva. This leads to calculus buildup, which compromises the health of the gingiva (gums). This process of precipitation kills the bacterial cells within dental plaque, but the rough and hardened surface that is formed provides an ideal surface for further plaque formation. It is caused by precipitation of minerals from saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in plaque on the teeth. In dentistry, calculus or tartar is a form of hardened dental plaque. When your dental hygienist says you have calculus on your teeth, have you ever wondered exactly what is calculus? According to Wikipedia the following is a very descriptive definition of calculus.
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