The Easy Way to Remove Plaque from Teeth
Plaque is one of the most common oral hygiene issues and while it’s not initially threatening, failing to treat it can be costly.
What is Plaque?
Plaque forms in-between and behind your teeth after bacteria from food and drink remain in your mouth. It is difficult to spot because it’s a soft, clear-coloured film that hides in tough-to-see areas in your mouth.
Plaque on its own won’t cause you too many problems, as regular brushing and flossing should keep it at bay. However, the longer the bacteria inside plaque goes untreated, the higher the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
The Effects of Plaque
The longer you leave plaque, the harder it is to remove it via brushing and flossing. This is because when plaque hardens it becomes tartar. As it continues to build and spread, it will affect the gum line and making brushing and flossing increasingly difficult. The longer tartar is left, the more damage it will do to your gum line, causing it to turn red, inflamed and eventually bleed.
Bleeding is commonly referred to as one of the first stages of gingivitis, which is an early stage of gum disease.
The Effects of Tartar
Tartar is essentially the second evolution stage of plaque. While plaque resembles a soft, sticky film, tartar hardens this film and sticks to your teeth and gums. This will eventually lead to receding gums.
Note: Even those who follow strict hygiene rules won’t be protected against the threat of bacteria. Regular checkups with your dentist will help keep plaque and tartar buildup at bay.
The Effects of Gingivitis
The good news is that gingivitis is treatable. It’s known as a non-destructive oral disease that causes the gums to become red and inflamed. It is the most common form of periodontal disease.
However, failure to treat gingivitis will lead to bone deterioration. Symptoms of gingivitis include:
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth (weakened bone structure)
- Gum abscesses (pus formed under your gums and/or teeth)
- Unpleasant taste in your mouth
Progressive Gingivitis (Acute Necrotising Ulcerative Gingivitis)
There are rarer cases when a patient suffering with gingivitis can suffer from ANUG, which presents more serious symptoms. These include:
- Bleeding gums
- Ulcers
- Gum recession
- Metallic taste in your mouth
- Excess saliva
- Difficulty swallowing
- Speech impediment
- Fever-like symptoms
The Simple Way to Clean Plaque
The only difficulty that comes with cleaning plaque is identifying it in the first place. Regular brushing and flossing will help repel the presence of plaque. Simply using an electric toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and flossing twice a day should prevent plaque from causing you any problems.
It’s strongly advised that you arrange a checkup with your dentist every six-to-eight months to ensure you’re keeping on top of your oral hygiene. A scale and polish will help remove any plaque or tartar that has developed since your last visit. Keeping up to date with your dental checkups could also save you a small fortune in serious dental intervention the future (cavities, crowns, fillings etc).
Identifying Plaque
As stated previously, plaque is tough to spot because of its clear, film-like appearance. However, if you do want to know if you’re suffering from excess plaque, you can buy disclosing tablets that stain plaque-heavy areas to make it easy to clean.
The most effective way to identify and remove plaque is to visit your dentist for a check up. If the plaque has developed into tartar, only your dentist will be able to safely remove. Tartar removal is made simple using a dentist’s specialised tools.
The Importance of Flossing
One of the main causes of plaque and tartar is leftover food cause in between your teeth and gums. While it can be used to help pick out food from you teeth, this is not its primary purpose. Floss is actually designed to help remove the film of bacteria which forms plaque. As discussed before, if this plaque is left, it will turn into tartar. Cleaning in between your teeth is an essential part of oral hygiene, and most toothbrushes are not able to remove food from tricky areas. There is no ‘correct’ order to brushing and flossing. Some believe that flossing first helps loosen plaque and bacteria particles to allow for a better brush. However, as long as both are performed, your oral hygiene should remain clear.
Key Points to Keep Plaque Away:
The most important points to keep plaque away are:
Brushing and flossing – doing this twice a day will dramatically help fight the presence of plaque. Floss is typically neglected but remains one of the most important parts of good oral hygiene.
Eating and maintaining a healthy diet – staying away from food and drink high in sugar means less harmful bacteria enters your mouth. Sticking to a diet that doesn’t include a high sugar count will ultimately help keep plaque away.
Know how to use mouth rinsers – mouth rinsers should never be used an an alternative to brushing and flossing. Using them is perfectly acceptable but be sure to brush and floss.
Visit your dentist for regular checkups – every six-to-eight months, visit your dentist for a checkup and scale and polish. If anything looks our the ordinary, they will advise you on ways to get back on top of you oral hygiene.
Visit Your Dentist
If you think you may have a build up of plaque, tartar or are simply due a checkup, do not hesitate to book in with our team today. The longer you neglect your oral hygiene routine, the worse your problems will become. Cleaning your teeth and arranging regular checkups with your dentist may also save you a small fortune, as it will eliminate the risk of expense dental reconstruction due to a neglectful oral hygiene routine.
Leaving your teeth and gums exposed to such bacteria can cause serious long-term damage to your oral health. Also, rectifying these issues can be costly, far more than a booking a check up and/or scale and polish.
