When you don’t clean your teeth often enough, plaque and tartar can build up. What do both of these do to the teeth? Plaque is an acidic substance that comes from the sugar in the foods you eat mixed with bacteria in the mouth. Tartar is a hard, calcified deposit that forms on the teeth and contributes to tooth decay. Both of these will erode the tooth enamel and lead to dental caries, also known as cavities. You can prevent the formation of both with proper oral hygiene habits. Learn more about what plaque and tartar do to your teeth and how you can avoid the effects of both!

The Facts About Plaque

If you’re like most patients, you’ve probably heard of plaque before. However, not all patients know what the big deal is about plaque. What is it and what does it do to your teeth? The American Dental Association tells us that plaque is a sticky, acidic substance that erodes your tooth enamel. Your tooth enamel is the hard, outer surface of your tooth. Plaque is a substance made from sugars in the foods you eat mixed with bacteria in the mouth. Many mouth bacterias help break down the food you eat to start the digestive process. Others, however, work to break down your tooth enamel. The more sugary foods or drinks you consume, the more plaque you will have.

Plaque loves to stick to your tooth surface. If it’s not cleaned off with proper and frequent brushing, then it slowly erodes away your enamel. Tooth enamel is naturally hard, but even the hardest substances can be weakened over time. Plaque will eventually create small fissures in the teeth and seep inside the tooth where it will cause tooth decay. This decay can spread fast, causing you cavities that can grow rapidly. The way to avoid all of this happening? Brushing and flossing the teeth every single day!

Tartar Control

We introduced plaque to you first because tartar is closely related. In fact, tartar is plaque that has had time to harden on your teeth. It is sometimes known as calculus. Tartar loves to form right along or underneath a patient’s gumline. This is also an area that is missed more often with brushing and flossing. Plaque is made from a mixture of bacteria and the food you eat. Sometimes, that substance can carry minerals that harden to the teeth. Tartar is the result as a calcified deposit of minerals along the gumline.

Tartar can’t be removed by a patient along because it is so hardened to the teeth. What’s worse is that it is very porous in nature, so that it collects stains fairly easy, especially if you are a coffee or tea drinker. You’ll know the difference between plaque and tartar because of their color. Plaque is colorless and is constantly forming in the mouth with each food or drink item ou ingest. Tartar builds up and creates a yellow or brown hue along your gumline. The only way to get rid of tartar before it does damage to your teeth is to see your dentist. Only your dentist has tools strong enough to remove tartar buildup and prevent problems such as tooth decay and gum disease from occuring.

Preventative Care

Most patients will have plaque buildup in their mouth. Like we said, plaque forms with every food or drink item you ingest. You can get rid of this plaque by brushing your teeth often every single day. The American Dental Association recommends brushing the teeth AT LEAST twice a day. Don’t be afraid to brush more than that, especially after every meal if you are prone to cavities. Patients should also floss the teeth at least twice a day. When flossing, be sure to bring the floss high up into the gumline to remove trapped food particles. You should also scrape the teeth to remove food and plaque that wasn’t cleared away completely with flossing.

We advise our patients to come into the office at least biannually (meaning every 6 months) for a comprehensive examination and a full dental cleaning. At these appointments, we can view each tooth individually and use tools to test for tartar buildup and the presence of cavities. Laser cavity detection and x-rays allow us to see cavities while they are still small and prevent the progression of tooth decay. We can also thoroughly clean your teeth, give you dental sealants if desired and provide a fluoride treatment to strengthen the teeth against attacks from plaque and tartar. Patients who have their dental exams and cleanings often will see that they have a lowered risk for tooth decay and gum disease.

Save Your Teeth

Don’t become a victim to plaque and tartar. Receive the proper care today to remove tartar from your teeth and practice proper oral hygiene habits to minimize plaque. Our goal is to help every patient have a beautiful and healthy smile, and it’s possible with proper care. If you are due for your regular dental cleaning and exam, call our Mountain Aire Dentistry office today at (303) 731-7755!