How can I prevent plaque and tartar on my teeth?
Everyone suffers from it. However, the extent to which it is present varies from person to person: dental plaque. The sticky, transparent substance forms between your teeth and under the gums. If you don’t do enough to remove plaque, it can lead to tartar or worse dental problems. By brushing regularly it is possible to combat plaque, but can it also be prevented?
What is dental plaque?
Plaque is a sticky, transparent layer that forms on the teeth and between the grooves of the molars, both above and below the gums. Plaque must be removed regularly as it can cause dental problems. Plaque forms throughout the mouth, but mainly settles in and around deep fissures in the molars. Plaque is usually colorless, but it can give a strange and rough feeling on your teeth. It makes the teeth rough and slimy. It feels like your teeth are wearing ‘sweaters’.
Other symptoms of dental plan include bad breath, red, swollen gums and discoloration on the teeth. Those most at risk are children, older adults and many who are financially unable to seek dental care.
The scientific definition
Plaque is a bacterial biofilm, a community of microorganisms that resides on your tooth surface. Biofilms are highly diverse microbial communities. The interactive and cooperative nature of these microbes ensures that dental plaque is particularly resistant to anti-microbial agents (plaque fighters).
How is plaque formed on the teeth?
Plaque is caused by food and drink remaining on the teeth after consumption. Inadequate brushing and flossing can also cause plaque to remain on the surface of the teeth. The gums in particular are a good place for plaque to develop.
To develop plaque you need bacteria, carbohydrates, food scraps and saliva. After you eat foods containing carbohydrates, those carbohydrates will combine with the natural bacteria in the mouth to produce an acid. This acid is then recombined with old food remains and saliva. This releases a chemical reaction that causes the microbial substance to become sticky and hard. That sticky substance is plaque.
Problems and risks
Without regular brushing, over time the acids will begin to eat their way through the tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is slowly destroyed, causing tooth decay and cavities. Tooth decay can lead to tooth abscesses. As plaque develops on the tooth roots below the gums, the acids can slowly break the bone that supports the tooth.
Tartar and gum disease
Dental plaque near the gums can also lead to gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease, which can eventually lead to more serious periodontal disease. In that case, the plaque produces toxins that irritate the gums, causing them to swell, bleed and become infected. Plaque that remains on the teeth for several days will calcify and become a hard, thicker substance called tartar or tartar. Tartar is difficult to remove and must be scraped off by a dentist or dental hygienist
Preventing dental plaque
Thorough brushing for two minutes twice a day and flossing once a day are the best ways to remove plaque. Electric toothbrushes have proven to be the most effective at removing plaque. Brushing after every meal or snack, as well as before bedtime, also helps prevent plaque buildup. Eating a balanced diet with limited sugar and carbohydrates can help prevent plaque and tartar. Limiting between-meal meals can also help, because acid production escalates each time food is eaten.
Your teeth need a professional dental cleaning every six months and a dental exam once a year. During cleaning, the dentist or dental hygienist will remove all traces of plaque and tartar from the mouth.
Finally
Plaque will never disappear completely, but it can be maintained with good oral hygiene and a visit to the dentist. It is important to remove it regularly before the acid can cause tooth decay. These toxins can then no longer cause gum disease or turn into tartar.
read more
- Cavities or tooth decay in teeth: symptoms and treatment
- Gum problems: Gingivitis
- Sensitive teeth: Cause, remedy and treatment
- Preventing yellow teeth: Whitening and laser
- Inflamed tooth: Cause, symptoms and treatment