Plaque is the major cause of tooth decay and gum disease (gingivitis). It is hard to see with the naked eye because it is whitish colored, like teeth. Dental plaque is a sticky, colorless, substance that builds up around the gum line. It is made up of food particles and saliva. Plaque can easily be removed with daily tooth brushing, rinsing and oil pulling. If it is left unattended, it develops into tartar.
At first, this slimy layer is fragile and easily removed by tooth brushing. Think of the film on the wall of a fish tank. That can be easily removed with a cloth, if you’re vigilant. The bacteria in tooth plaque are free to release acids that damage tooth enamel. Regular acid assaults on enamel can wear holes in teeth, commonly called cavities.
Plaque prevention should be the goal. Keeping your teeth plaque-free will not only give you a beautiful smile, it will also help reduce your chances of gum disease and tooth decay.
Factors that can lead up to forming tooth plaque are:
- Oral Hygiene
- Alignment of teeth
Some foods and drinks are more likely to cause tooth decay and plaque buildup. Foods that cling to your teeth, such as milk, honey, table sugar, soda, ice cream, raisins and other dried fruit, cookies, hard candy, dry cereal and chips are more likely to cause decay than are foods that are easily washed away by saliva.
Did you know that you can make your own coconut oil toothpaste with just a few simple ingredients that you have in your kitchen?
Not only is coconut oil toothpaste effective, with it you can avoid all of the chemicals and toxic ingredients in commercial toothpaste and save money!
All you need is:
2 tablespoons Coconut Oil
2 tablespoons Baking Soda
10 drops of Peppermint oil (optional)
You can make a larger or smaller batch depending on how long you would like it to last and what size container you’re storing it in.
Mix all the ingredients together until you get a paste like consistency. Use it as you use normal commercial toothpaste.
The pH of our mouths plays a big role in determining what populations of bacteria flourish in our mouths. It’s generally recognized that the lower (more acidic) the pH in the mouth, the greater the risk of tooth decay. (Enamel demineralization occurs at pH 5.5 and lower). V
It takes only a small amount of coconut oil to keep your teeth clean, and one jar can easily last you months, making it a very inexpensive toothpaste. Coconut oil is effective in attacking Streptococcus Mutans bacteria which causes cavities. It is rich in medium chain triglycerides and high in lauric acid.
So try out this easy recipe and get rid of your teeth plaque in a simple natural way.