Dental plaque is a sticky substance created by bacteria in your mouth that leaves a film on your teeth. If not removed effectively with daily brushing and flossing can lead to numerous problems such as gum disease like gingivitis, receding gums, or as studies have found recently contribute to heart disease. When you eat or drink sugary foods and drinks like sodas, juices, milk, dried fruit like raisins, and candy the sugar mixes with bacteria in your mouth to form an acid which will lead to cavities and plaque buildup. Dental plaque when not removed correctly will leave a hardened buildup called tartar that requires an office visit to scrape and remove from your teeth.
Defeating plaque is not a hard task to accomplish with proper care of your teeth and gums at home as well as routine dental checkups. Brushing at least twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride or even better would be to brush after each meal, flossing in between teeth daily, a rinsing with a fluoride rinse are the best course of action for at home prevention of plaque building up on your teeth. Since sugar mixes with bacteria in your saliva causes buildup of plaque another safe course to take is to limit the amount of sugary snacks you intake between meals. Healthier snacks like nuts, cheeses, and raw vegetables are not only less sugar they also contain nutrients like calcium that strengthen your teeth enamel.
How Do I Know If Plaque is a Problem For Me?
If you do have plaque buildup that needs professionally removed, you can tell by running your tongue along your teeth. If your teeth do not feel smooth or have a fuzzy feeling to them your most likely have tartar buildup. In some cases you can see yellowing or browning of your teeth next to the gum line. An office visit to remove the tartar includes a process called scaling that requires special tools to scrape and remove the hardened plaque from your teeth. Once the buildup is removed they will clean and polish your teeth and give you tips to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy in between regular check-ups.
Is It Really Serious?
Left untreated, tartar can lead to more than just gum disease or tooth decay. Plaque buildup has been found to contribute to the development of heart disease, diabetes, and even some autoimmune diseases. Your best course of action is to properly care for your teeth at home and schedule regular checkups to defeat plaque buildup before it starts. Cedar Park dental offers top of the line dental care and we are happy to schedule your checkup today.
Call today to schedule your dental appointment at Cedar Park Premier Dentistry! (512) 434-0560
