If you have ever had plaque sitting on your teeth for several days, then there is a high chance you saw it turn into tartar. Plaque can be removed with a toothbrush. Tartar, on the other hand, is a lot more difficult to remove from the surface of your tooth and will often result in the assistance of a dentist. If you wear dental implants and are older, this can easily end in gingivitis. Gingivitis is one of the main oral diseases that you should work aggressively to avoid. It will shorten the life of your dental restoration. Luckily, there are a few tips that you can use to help prevent tartar buildup when taking care of dental implants as a senior.

Use an Antibacterial Rinse After in Between Meals and Before Bed

Using an antibacterial rinse in between your meals and before you go to bed will be the key to preventing tartar buildup. Plaque often forms in between meals and when you go to sleep. Tartar follows soon after that. Therefore, if you can stop plaque before it forms or before it hardens into tartar, then you will be able to prevent buildup. The simplest way that this can be done is by using antibacterial rinse frequently. An antibacterial rinse has the ability to break down the bacteria that often causes gum disease. You can talk to your dentist about specially formulated antibacterial rinse or you can pick up a commercial rinse from either a grocery or convenience store.

Use a Tongue Scraper

It is easy to allow the food on the surface of your tongue to go unnoticed because it is not as noticeable as the one stuck in between your teeth. Your teeth are the first thing people see when you smile. As a result, the food stuck against your tongue will often attract other bacteria and plaque throughout your mouth. In order to combat this, you may consider investing in a tongue scraper. A tongue scraper works deeper than just a traditional toothbrush and removes all of the remaining foods and debris from the surface. You can find a tongue scraper at your local grocery store.

Tartar buildup is a sign that you need to up your oral care habits. Do not allow tartar buildup to compromise the health of your dental implants. Therefore, use these tips to make sure that this does not happen. Contact a dentist such as Richard L. Myers, DDS to learn more.