What is dental plaque and how can I get rid of it?

Everyone has dental plaque, but it only causes problems like tooth decay and gum disease for some people. If you want to keep plaque at bay, it’s important to prioritize your oral hygiene at home and see your dentist for preventive care at least twice each year.

Fortunately, dental plaque doesn’t have to be detrimental to you. If you follow our advice, you can take steps to keep it in check.

Dental Plaque Is the Enemy of Oral Health

Dental plaque is a sticky film that is constantly forming on your teeth when oral bacteria mix with sugary or starchy foods and beverages that you eat and drink. Those bacteria produce acids as a result of their own digestive processes, and those acids can break down enamel or cause inflammation in gum tissue.

Keeping Your Smile Free from The Influence of Plaque

Although plaque develops in all human mouths, fortunately, there are steps that you can take to make sure that it doesn’t hang around too long on your smile.

• Brush your teeth two times every day for two minutes each time.
• Floss daily to disrupt plaque formation along the gumline.
• If your dentist recommends it, add an anti-bacterial mouthwash rinse to your oral hygiene routine.
• Limit your consumption of sugary snacks and sodas, especially those that leave behind a sticky residue that can cling to the teeth.
• Stay well hydrated to make sure that you’re producing enough saliva. If you take a medication that causes dry mouth as a side effect, consider using an artificial saliva product.

The Importance of Professional Care

In addition to taking all of these plaque prevention measures at home, you should also visit your dentist twice each year for a professional teeth cleaning. Plaque that is not cleared from the mouth via oral hygiene activities can harden into tartar, which can only be removed by professional-grade instruments.

If your teeth seem to be particularly vulnerable to the development of plaque, despite your best efforts to minimize it, additional treatments or tools may be recommended to protect your smile in your case, such as:

• Sealants
• Fluoride treatments
• Prescription-strength toothpaste or mouthwash

Are you doing everything within your power to minimize plaque formation? Don’t hesitate to ask us about this important aspect of maintaining your oral health. We’re happy to speak with you by phone or address this topic at your next checkup.