Will Hardened Plaque Go Away?
Plaque is a sticky, clear substance made from leftover food particles and the saliva that mix in your mouth. If you do not brush properly, it begins to collect and build up on your teeth. This is troublesome because plaque contains bacteria, which promotes tooth decay and gum disease.
Plaque forms because of chemical reactions that naturally take place in your mouth. To create plaque, your mouth needs saliva, bacteria, carbohydrates, and food particles. Carbohydrates are found in most foods, even healthy choices like fruits and vegetables. Foods with a higher sugar content have more carbohydrates, so if you eat a lot of candy and cookies you are more likely to form plaque.
The first step of plaque accumulation occurs when you break down food into carbohydrates while chewing. The carbohydrates then combine with the natural bacteria to create an acid. This acid by itself can eat away at the surface enamel of your teeth. When the acid combines with particles of food and saliva, another chemical reaction happens, and the substance becomes sticky and somewhat hard. This new substance formed is plaque, and it sticks to your teeth, creating numerous problems if not removed.
What Oral Problems Can Plaque Cause?
When plaque accumulates on your teeth, it eats away the enamel, resulting in cavities and decay. Plaque buildup will also cause gingivitis or severe gum disease. If the plaque hardens, the bacteria will cause bad breath and turn your teeth yellow.
* More than 80% of American adults suffer from gum disease caused by plaque buildup.
* Plaque hardens within a few hours of collecting on your teeth.
* Plaque buildup will lead to tooth loss if left untreated.
* Green tea and red wine can help prevent plaque buildup.
* Olive oil can cover your teeth with a fatty film that stops the plaque from forming on the teeth.
* Green tea drinkers are 20% less likely to lose teeth due to plaque formation.
* Pregnant women can be more susceptible to plaque buildup and tooth decay.
Hardened Plaque is Difficult to Remove
Once plaque collects onto your teeth, you have a limited amount of time to remove it before it begins to harden. Most plaque will harden within 48 hours of formation, and within just a few days it will become so hard that it is almost impossible to remove. This hardened plaque is called tartar, and the only way to remove it is to see your dentist for a professional scaling or scraping of your teeth. There are some toothpastes that claim to help with tartar control, but they only work by removing the plaque before it hardens and becomes tartar.
Brushing your teeth every day is crucial for removing plaque that accumulates daily, as well as to continue to prevent the plaque buildup in the first place. If plaque has formed on your teeth but has not hardened into tartar, brushing will remove it from your teeth altogether.
Thinking about dental plaque is not pleasant. But if this substance is left untreated, it can cause serious problems such as gum disease and tooth decay. Understanding the damage that plaque causes should encourage you to brush and floss daily so that you do not develop these dental hygiene problems. Speak with your dentist about additional ways to prevent plaque formation to help keep your mouth and smile healthy.