If you value and treasure your smile, you will want to keep plaque at bay. Not only does the sticky film ruin the appearance of your smile, but it also damages your teeth speeding up tooth decay, aggravating the formation of dental cavities, and eventually leading to tooth loss. However, by keeping plaque build-up to a minimum, you can maintain optimal dental health for a lifetime.
Understanding Plaque and Tartar
Plaque is a sticky film full of bacteria that forms over our teeth after we eat. The bacteria in our mouth break down food, producing acid, which mixes with saliva and leftover food particles to create plaque. We all know that we have to brush twice daily to keep plaque build-up to a minimum. Some people even brush after every meal. However, that can do more harm than good as it may end up damaging the enamel.
If left un-cleaned, the plaque may turn into a yellow film over the teeth and may even harden to turn into tartar. Tartar is a hard yellowish-brown crust mostly visible in the teeth' crevices and around the gum line. Where you can clean plaque by following proper oral and dental hygiene practices, tartar is harder to clean.
How to Treat Plaque and Tartar
We all know that to keep plaque at bay, we should brush our teeth twice daily, floss at least once a day, clean our tongues and use a good mouthwash. However, what we don't know is that despite following excellent oral hygiene practices, plaque can build up in crevices and over the gum line.
Thus, you must visit your dentist for a professional dental cleaning at least twice a year. You can also prevent plaque build-up by avoiding starchy and sugary foods as they fuel plaque production. Drinking lots of water and using fluoride-rich toothpaste also helps prevent plaque and tartar build-up and can also help its removal. If you still notice yellow and brown spots on your teeth, visit your dentist to seek professional help.
Dentist Bend, OR • Dental Blog • Aesthetic Dentistry of Bend Dr. Thomas E. Wold has created this blog to help educate the community. Like a Post? Please use the "share it" button to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. Aesthetic Dentistry of Bend, LLC - Thomas E. Wold DMD, 124 NW Hawthorne Ave. Bend, OR. 97703; (541) 389-0261; wolddmd.com; 9/21/2023; Key Phrases: dentist Bend OR;
If you value and treasure your smile, you will want to keep plaque at bay. Not only does the sticky film ruin the appearance of your smile, but it also damages your teeth speeding up tooth decay, aggravating the formation of dental cavities, and eventually leading to tooth loss. However, by keeping plaque build-up to a minimum, you can maintain optimal dental health for a lifetime.