When you visit your dental office in Newcastle, you might hear your dentist or hygienist discussing dental plaque. It is a biofilm continually forming over your teeth and gums, and if you try running your tongue around your teeth first thing in the morning, you may notice your mouth has a slightly fuzzy or sticky feeling. That is dental plaque. It is called a biofilm because it consists of microbes coated in a polymer layer, and this sticky coating helps them attach to your teeth, where they can begin to grow and thrive.
What Is the Difference between Plaque and Tartar?
Tartar, or calculus, is hardened dental plaque. Unless you remove plaque regularly, it accumulates minerals found in saliva and builds up around your gumline, especially around the front and back surfaces of your teeth. Thanks to these minerals, it forms a hard, crusty layer that looks yellow or off-white and which is impossible to remove by brushing and flossing. Tartar is the substance removed or scaled away from your teeth by your hygienist using special tools during your dental cleaning in Clarington.
What Causes Dental Plaque?
Your mouth contains hundreds of different strains of organisms, creating a delicately balanced ecosystem, but if certain organisms overgrow, such as specific strains of bacteria, it can cause problems. The problems arise whenever you consume anything carbohydrate-rich or sugary as the bacteria feed on the sugars, producing acid as a byproduct. The acid can cause problems like tooth decay and gum disease.
How to Control Plaque?
Most of the time, good oral hygiene will easily control plaque. You must brush your teeth regularly, at least twice daily, using a soft-bristled toothbrush. It’s up to you whether you choose an electric or manual brush. However, some people will find that an electric brush is much more comfortable to hold, and it is easier to remove plaque effectively. This is because it does much of the work for you and will time how long you brush your teeth.
It’s essential to brush your teeth for at least two minutes each time, working your way around your mouth methodically and ensuring you clean each tooth surface thoroughly. If you prefer a manual brush, that’s fine, provided you use the right techniques, and it’s worth having a small timer in your bathroom or using the stopwatch on your smartphone to time yourself.
Daily flossing is also essential because plaque can easily build up around the gumline and between teeth where a toothbrush cannot remove it. Flossing gets in these hard-to-reach areas, and it also helps stimulate your gums, helping them to remain strong and healthy. If you find it hard to floss, ask your hygienist for useful tips, and we are always more than happy to demonstrate the best techniques when you visit us at West Bowmanville Family Dental. Alternatively, we can show you other tools you may find easier to use, such as soft interdental pics and brushes, or you may wish to purchase a WaterPik. This electric device squirts pressurized water between your teeth to remove the plaque biofilm and food debris.
Regular Oral Hygiene Appointments
Even if you brush and floss thoroughly, some dental plaque will inevitably remain, and it hardens into tartar in just a couple of days. This substance must be removed regularly during a professional dental cleaning in Courtice. Most people need to have their teeth cleaned professionally every six months, and it’s a great treatment to book with your dental checkups. It’ll help you maintain strong teeth and gums and beautifully fresh breath.