You have almost certainly heard of dental plaque and know it can harm oral health. However, you might not know exactly why and what problems it can cause.
What Is Dental Plaque?
Dental plaque continually forms over your teeth and is a sticky biofilm containing bacteria. These bacteria feed on sugars and carbohydrates found in the foods you eat. These leftover food particles allow them to thrive and release acid and toxins.
If you allow dental plaque to build up, it can cause problems.
Removing Dental Plaque
Initially, dental plaque forms a soft layer over your teeth. You can remove it by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine in Oshawa is critical as plaque hardens into tartar (calculus) in a few days.
Tartar is much tougher, so you can’t get rid of it by brushing or flossing. Instead, it has to be removed during your regular dental cleaning with our hygiene team at Margolian Dentistry. Tartar makes it easier for plaque to adhere to your teeth, and the bacteria in both these substances will continue to release acids and toxins.
What Happens If You Have Significant Tartar Build-up?
If you don’t have a good dental care routine and have a significant tartar build-up, it increases the risk of conditions including:
- Tooth enamel erosion.
- Tooth decay.
- Tooth infection.
- Gum disease.
Tooth Enamel Erosion
When teeth are exposed to acids, it weakens the enamel covering them so that small lesions or holes eventually develop in the enamel. As your tooth enamel erodes, your teeth may become increasingly sensitive to temperature changes. For example, they may twinge uncomfortably when you have something hot or cold.
Tooth Decay
Once there is a hole in your tooth enamel, the bacteria in plaque and tartar can begin damaging the dentin underneath, destroying it and causing a cavity. Sometimes, the cavity is visible as a dark spot on a tooth. Even a small hole can conceal a larger cavity underneath.
Tooth Infection
Once the cavity is large enough to reach the dental pulp right in the tooth’s centre, you will likely develop a nasty toothache. Your dental pulp contains the tooth nerve; if it becomes inflamed and infected, it is very painful.
At this stage, you would need root canal therapy in Whitby to try to save the tooth.
Gum Disease
The damage caused by plaque and tartar isn’t just confined to your teeth. Gum disease is a very serious condition that can go undetected during its early stages as it’s usually painless.
Early gum disease is called gingivitis. At this point, we can treat gingivitis in Ajax quite easily. If it progresses, it becomes a condition called periodontitis or advanced gum disease. Periodontitis is considerably more serious and can lead to tooth loss and even affect your general health.
If you visit Margolian Dentistry regularly, we can ensure that gum disease is detected early and treated quickly.
How to Get Rid of Plaque and Tartar Build-Up Effectively
Staying on top of plaque and tartar build-up is straightforward. Ensure you brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss daily. You must spend at least two minutes cleaning your teeth thoroughly each time.
Flossing every day should be non-negotiable as your toothbrush cannot clean between your teeth where plaque and tartar tend to build up. We know using conventional dental floss can seem tricky, but other tools exist. Ask us for help and practical advice.
Regular hygiene appointments enable us to remove tartar deposits from your teeth. Even with an excellent oral care routine, some tartar will likely be present. Getting rid of this substance regularly is an easy way to maintain strong, healthy teeth and gums.
