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???
Consider chewing Xylitol gum after eating. Xylitol directly fucks up the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Make sure to get a brand that is mostly Xylitol (I like Pur).
However, be careful if you have a dog, because xylitol is super poisonous to dogs!
That was interesting ha
I think between a candidiasis and plaque I'll keep the plaque, at least I have it somewhat under control
I used to have this problem. I can't use wire floss because there is no gap between my teeth... I started using water flossing (basically a pressure washer for your teeth) and paired with an electric toothbrush it worked wonders.
Other notes for a better dental care routine:
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Use toothpaste with fluoride.
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If you are using the water flossing method, do it before brushing your teeth.
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Don't rinse your mouth after brushing; this is especially useful for brushing your teeth before going to sleep. Don't drink water afterwards, do it before if you want (obviously if you are feeling dehydrated, drink water, but otherwise let the fluoride do it's thing).
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Waterpicks for me have been amazing! I got one for like 30 USD and I use it once or twice a week. It makes my teeth feel so much cleaner and I feel like they stay cleaner too. It also gets stuff stuck between your teeth instantly without having to do weird flossing gymnastics. I’ve always sucked at flossing but with the waterpick I actually use it regularly.
I've been to a few over the years. I get two types of answers: "because you don't floss" (I floss), and "this is normal, you just come for an annual cleanup".
I wonder if it's really just normal and everyone here in the comments has plaque that gets cleaned up professionally every year, or maybe there are people who have near zero plaque from whom I can learn a thing or two.
I'd trust my dentist over any rando on the interwebs. And yes, a yearly cleaning seems like a good idea.
I'm asking if people had any success with a similar problem on a personal level. It's a great way to find out what is the norm and what is achievable
The thing is, everyone is different, and what works for you might kill me.
The skin inside my mouth yes.
https://www.ijcasereportsandimages.com/archive/article-full-text/101184Z01CE2020
That's the best reference I can find on a quick Google search, it even has images in case you wonder. I'm fine with toothpastes because I rinse thoroughly after brushing, but mouthwash needs no rinsing to be effective and after a week or so of regular use the inside of my mouth gets very irritated and sore.
Use a toothpaste or mouthwash containing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorhexidine
You seem to be doing quite some things well. Maybe pay attention to your brushing? My dentist once had me brush my teeth in front of her and identified why in some teeth I'd consistently be clean and in others I'd consistently build plaque.
Her recommendations: brush from the gum to the tip of the tooth. Try to aim at the holes between teeth. Pay close attention to the part in front of your tongue, in your lower front teeth; that part can easily build plaque if you don't use the tip of your brush well to get in the holes between your teeth.
Thanks, I don't believe it's the brushing. I've done that with several dentists and my brushing is fine. The plaque builds where the brush doesn't reach, often right under the gums.
I've never had anyone say to brush only from the gum to the tooth ends, this makes sense and might be helpful
Get a good toothpaste, brush twice a day, change my toothbrush once a month (whether it's electronic never changed my success rate), and go to the dentist twice a year. My dentist says I have model teeth.
For me I use Phillips soniccare tooth brush which is infinitely better than a manual one. Have you tried your luck with iodine mouthwash? It's more expensive and tastes gross but it's really good for gingivitis and doesn't burn. Also if you aren't already, flossing everyday and maybe after each meal if needed is important. Floss has to be reaching below the gums to pull out the trapped food and not just in between the teeth.
While I think brushing, flossing, mouthwash all play an important role. Nobody is teaching you how to breakdown the actual problem. Besides genetics if your hygiene is sufficient. The food and drinks you consume are to blame. Bacteria are influenced from your diet. Change what you consume and your bodily systems will adjust accordingly, that being said cause and effect should be noted. Changing one system will modify others good or bad. Tailor your intakes based on the symptoms your trying to mitigate by learning how those systems work individually and then cohesively together. The fastest way albeit quite inconvenient is to log every food, drink, and consumable item that goes into your mouth each day for X number of days and find trigger foods which cause your symptoms. Analyze and extrapolate the data. Refine through trial and error. Tailor your diet to suit.