About Dental Plaque
Everyone has dental plaque. This sticky film collects on your teeth daily when the bacteria in your mouth mix with sugary or starchy foods. Your daily tooth brushing and flossing remove the plaque. If you do not remove the plaque each day, it will harden into tartar. Plaque causes cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. Consistent dental checkups and professional teeth cleaning remove plaque and protect your teeth.
What is Plaque?
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that accumulates on your teeth every day, 24-7. Bacteria in the plaque produce acids from eating and drinking. These acids can destroy tooth enamel and result in cavities and gum disease.
Plaque will travel down your teeth and develop under your gums or roots and damage the bones that support your teeth. Untreated plaque transforms into tough-to-remove tartar. Simple proper oral hygiene at home gets rid of plaque.
What Causes Plaque?
Plaque forms when the constant bacteria in your mouth mix with sugary or starchy foods, like milk, juice, soft drinks, fruit, bread, and pasta. These bacteria release acids necessary to break down the carbohydrates. If you do not brush soon, the combination of bacteria, acids, and carbohydrates creates the film called plaque.
How Common is Plaque?
Everyone has bacteria in their mouth that cause plaque, which means everyone has plaque to some degree. If you run your tongue over your teeth and they feel fuzzy, that is plaque. With simple proper oral hygiene, you can remove plaque every day and prevent serious dental problems.
Because plaque causes cavities and gum disease, regular dental exams are imperative. If plaque and tooth decay go untreated, you can easily develop a damaging gum infection or lose teeth.
What are the Complications of Plaque?
If you do not brush and floss every day, the plaque hardens into tartar. Only a dental professional can remove tartar. Plaque and tartar lead to:
- Gingivitis and periodontal (gum) disease.
- Severe gum infection (periodontitis).
- Cavities.
- Tooth infection (abscessed tooth).
How is Plaque Managed or Treated?
Good oral hygiene, including regular brushing and flossing, removes plaque and therefore prevents tartar buildup. During your regular dental exam, your dentist scrapes the plaque and any tartar from your teeth. They might also recommend:
- Dental sealants to keep the plaque from forming on the chewing surfaces of teeth.
- Dry mouth medications to improve and increase your saliva production.
- Fluoride treatments, which slow the growth of bacteria.
- Prescription toothpaste or antibacterial mouthwash.
When Should I Contact the Dentist?
You should call your dentist if you experience:
- Chronic bad breath.
- Swollen, bleeding gums, or other signs of gum disease.
- Toothache or mouth pain.
- Pain or difficulty chewing.
- Redness around or inside the mouth.
- Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods or drinks.
- A loose tooth.
- Facial swelling.
Simple Prevention with Common Sense
Dental plaque is a frequent and common problem, yet easy to prevent. Brush twice a day, floss daily, and visit your dentist consistently. You can add mouthwash to kill bacteria. If you do not remove the film of plaque daily, it will develop into tartar. Eventually, you can develop gum disease and risk tooth loss. You should have your teeth cleaned every six months. Ask your dentist about the measures that you can practice reducing plaque and protect your oral health.
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