A plaque on a wall can commemorate an important historical event or a heroic sacrifice. Unfortunately, plaque on your teeth is just the unsightly accumulation of harmful bacteria. Everyone deals with plaque, but a crucial part of oral hygiene is regularly eliminating it with your daily hygiene routine and recommended dental appointments. Here’s a brief overview of what plaque is, how it can hurt your teeth, and how you can get rid of it.
What Is Plaque?
Plaque is like a housing development made out of saliva and leftover food debris for the harmful bacteria living in your mouth. It’s known for being whitish or yellowish, growing both above and below the gumline, and increasing in mass over time. This results in an unsightly film hanging around on your teeth that can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental health problems. Plaque must be removed on a daily basis to keep your smile healthy and strong.
How Can Plaque Hurt My Teeth?
Plaque is full of food debris and harmful bacteria. These germs feed on these food residues, allowing them to multiply rapidly and excrete enamel-eroding acid. This acid accumulates in the plaque, allowing it to slowly wear away at your teeth, eventually causing tooth decay. It can also cause gingivitis by inflaming the gums and worse forms of gum disease by allowing bacteria to infect the inflamed tissue. If plaque is allowed to accumulate on the teeth for too long, it will harden into tartar that binds with the enamel and can only be removed by a dentist.
How Can I Eliminate Plaque?
Luckily, dental science provides people with the means to keep plaque levels under control. The first part of eliminating plaque is practicing proper oral hygiene every day, including brushing, flossing, and rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash. The second part is seeing your dentist regularly so they can clean your teeth, treat any issues, and advise your dental hygiene. The third part is limiting your sugar intake to deprive harmful bacteria of the fuel they need to multiply and cause oral infections.
While plaque is certainly a vile threat, it is a danger that can be managed. With proper care, your teeth can stay healthy and beautiful for a lifetime.
About the Practice
White Clay Dental has provided the best in dental health care for the community of Newark, DE for more than fifty years. Led by Drs. Donald T. Bond and Timothy D. Ganfield, the staff delivers remarkable results using the latest techniques and technology. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on proper dental care, contact the office online or dial (302) 731-4225.