About Dental Plaque
Absolutely everyone has dental plaque. This sticky film forms on your teeth when the bacteria in the mouth mix with sugary or starchy foods. Daily tooth brushing and flossing removes the plaque. If you do not remove the plaque, it then hardens into tartar. Plaque leads to cavities, gum disease and tooth loss. Regular dental checkups and professional teeth cleaning removes plaque and protects your teeth.
What is Plaque?
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth every day, 24-7. Bacteria in the plaque produce acids after you eat or drink. These acids will destroy tooth enamel and cause cavities and gum disease.
Plaque can travel down the teeth and develop under your gums on roots and damage the bones that support your teeth. Untreated plaque hardens into tough-to-remove tartar. Simple proper oral hygiene gets rid of plaque.
What Causes Plaque?
Plaque forms when the bacteria in your mouth mix with sugary or starchy foods, such as milk, juice, soft drinks, fruit, bread, and pasta. These bacteria release acids that break down the carbohydrates. If you do not brush your teeth soon, the combination of bacteria, acids and carbohydrates will mix into the film called plaque.
How Common is Plaque?
Everyone has mouth bacteria that cause plaque; therefore, everyone has plaque to some degree. If your teeth feel fuzzy when you run your tongue over them, that is plaque. With proper oral hygiene, you can remove plaque every day and prevent serious dental problems.
Because plaque causes cavities and gum disease, regular dental checkups are imperative. If plaque and tooth decay go untreated, you can easily develop an uncomfortable gum infection or lose teeth.
What are the Complications of Plaque?
If you do not brush and floss daily, the plaque will harden into tartar. Now only a dental professional can remove tartar. Plaque and tartar will lead to:
* Cavities.
* Tooth infection (abscessed tooth).
* Gingivitis and periodontal (gum) disease.
* Severe gum infection (periodontitis).
* Tooth decay and loss.
How is Plaque Managed or Treated?
Simple good oral hygiene, including regular brushing and flossing, removes the plaque and prevents tartar buildup. During your regular dental exam, your dentist will scrape the plaque and tartar from your teeth. They may also recommend:
* Dental sealants to protect and keep the plaque from forming on the chewing surfaces of teeth.
* Dry mouth medications to increase your saliva production.
* Fluoride treatments to slow the growth of bacteria and stop tooth decay.
* Prescription toothpaste or antibacterial mouthwash.
When Should I Call the Dentist?
You should call your dentist if you experience:
* Chronic bad breath.
* Swollen, bleeding gums or other signs of gum disease.
* Facial swelling.
* Toothache or mouth pain.
* Pain or difficulty chewing.
* Redness around or inside the mouth.
* Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods or drinks.
* Loose tooth.
Common Sense and Simple Prevention
Dental plaque is a frequent problem yet so easy to prevent. Brush and floss daily and see your dentist. You can add antiseptic mouthwashes to kill bacteria. If you do not remove the film of plaque daily, it will harden and develop into tartar. Eventually, you will get gum disease and risk tooth loss. You should have your teeth cleaned every six months. Ask your dentist about the steps that you can exercise to reduce plaque and protect your oral health.