What Is Dental Plaque and How Can I Get Rid of It?

Dental plaque, the sticky nuisance that develops on your teeth constantly when your mouth bacteria mixes with the sugary and starchy foods you consume, is a severe problem that you mustn’t encourage in your mouth. Thankfully tools, toothbrushes and dental floss are available to remove plaque from your teeth. Unfortunately, reaching every nook and corner of your mouth, including between your teeth, is practically impossible using brushing and flossing, indicating that some plaque remains in the mouth no matter what efforts you make to eliminate it.

Isn’t Dental Plaque Harmless?

Dental plaque seems harmless because it is merely a sticky nuisance on your teeth. However, the harmful mouth bacteria love to enjoy themselves on the sugary foods and beverages you consume to make plaque a tooth-killing problem. In addition, dental plaque has a nasty habit of hardening into tartar if left on or between your teeth in 48 hours. Finally, plaque is also nefarious because it results in cavities in your teeth when left on them without removal for extended periods.

Plaque on teeth and beneath the gum line hardening into tartar results in gingivitis which in turn assumes the role of assassinating your teeth by weakening your jawbone to cause tooth loss. Therefore plaque isn’t harmless as you presume but has a notorious reputation for being a harmful substance on your teeth.

What Must You Do with Dental Plaque on Your Teeth?

Dental plaque accumulates on everyone’s teeth no matter how well they care for their oral hygiene. You can adapt excellent dental hygiene practices using the most advanced tools to clean your teeth to remove this sticky nuisance. However, the optimal way to get rid of it is to visit the dentist in Ancaster, ON, for six monthly dental exams and cleanings when the hygienist at the practice uses instruments to detect and eliminate dental plaque from your mouth. The practice also takes x-rays of your teeth to determine whether plaque has created cavities between them.

Managing Dental Plaque on Your Teeth to Prevent Unnecessary Complications

Appropriate oral hygiene practices with regular brushing and flossing prevent plaque and tartar buildup. However, when we mention ‘regular,’ we mean incorporating these habits into your daily routine without considering brushing for 40 seconds instead of two minutes and neglecting to floss before or after brushing. Dental exams are also essential to manage plaque and ensure it doesn’t result in unnecessary complications like gum disease, tooth decay, or severe infections in your teeth.

The dentist near you in Hamilton, ON, suggests dental sealants on the molars to prevent plaque from sticking to them, making it easier to clean the back teeth. In addition, if you are affected by xerostomia, the dentist recommends dry mouth medicines to enhance saliva production.

Fluoride treatments at three, six, and 12 months can slow the growth of the bacteria responsible for plaque development to prevent tooth decay. Prescription chlorhexidine toothpaste and mouthwash can also prevent this slimy nuisance from accumulating on your teeth.

Preventing Dental Plaque on the Teeth

Preventing the development of dental plaque on your teeth helps take proper care of your teeth and gums. To succeed in your goal, you must incorporate the following suggestions in your dental hygiene routine:

Brush Twice Daily: you must brush your teeth twice daily, two minutes at a time, with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled or electric toothbrush. Incorporate the habit into your routine and clean your teeth after every meal.

Flossing: whether you use dental floss or water flosser to remove food and plaque between your teeth doesn’t matter. When you floss also makes no difference so long as you indulge in the habit once daily without exceptions.

Mouthwash: over-the-counter antiseptic mouthwash brands are available by the dozen. If you find it confusing to select a brand for yourself, request a recommendation from the Ancaster dentist, which they happily provide.

Healthy Foods: you must refrain from having sugary and starchy foods and drinks and prefer nutritious foods like plain yogurt, cheese, raw vegetables and fruits.

Sugarless Chewing Gum: If you find it challenging to brush after eating or drinking, consider chewing sugarless gum, authenticated by the American Dental Association, which helps promote saliva production to wash food particles trapped between your teeth.

No matter what efforts you make to get rid of dental plaque, it constantly accumulates on your teeth, making it necessary to receive six monthly dental exams and cleanings from the Ancaster dentist to keep your mouth healthy.

Ancaster Family Dentistry provides an effective remedy to eliminate the sticky dental plaque on your teeth when you visit them at six monthly intervals. Dental plaque is the sticky nuisance responsible for many conditions if left on your teeth without removal. Therefore book the dentist appointment today to eliminate the sticky pest with bacteria accumulating on your teeth today.