Plaque is a sticky mix of bacteria and the substances they secrete. Bacteria produce adhesive chemicals called mucopolysaccharides. The bacteria then live in this film on teeth, called a biofilm.
At first, this slimy layer is fragile and easily removed by vigilant tooth brushing. But if you don’t keep at it, the bacteria in tooth plaque are free to release acids that damage tooth enamel. Regular acid assaults on enamel can wear holes in teeth, commonly called cavities. If left alone, plaque buildup also gradually hardens, creating tartar or calculus on your teeth.
Tartar is petrified plaque. Once it’s there, you need a dentist’s help; it can’t be brushed off. Tartar above the gum line also contributes to gingivitis, or gum disease.
Since childhood, we have been trained to resist the dreaded enemy of teeth – plaque. Regular brushing and flossing are sure bets for dental health… But what else could you be doing — or avoiding — to keep plaque off your knockout smile?
Plaque Habit No. 1: Not Brushing Regularly
No one else might notice if you don’t brush your teeth twice a day, every day. But your teeth will. Brush your teeth gently twice a day, using a fluoride-containing toothpaste. The exact technique isn’t so important as concentrating to make sure you’re softly brushing all the surfaces of your teeth.
Plaque Habit No. 2: Not Flossing Daily
Brushing doesn’t reach the spaces between teeth, but plaque does. A simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage. Flossing also cleans plaque at the gum line, another area that brushing doesn’t reach. If you just can’t stand flossing your teeth, consider using one of the many other ADA-approved products to clean between your teeth daily.
Plaque Habit No. 3: Avoiding the Dentist
Even if you brush and floss your teeth daily, you’ll miss some plaque. Over time, that plaque hardens into tartar that needs to be removed at your dentist’s office. Yet more than a third of people surveyed haven’t seen their dentist in more than a year.
Studies show that in general, people who neglect regular dentist visits get more cavities and have a higher chance of losing their teeth. Once a year teeth cleanings are considered the minimum. Twice a year teeth cleanings may be better for many people.
Plaque Habit No. 4: Neglecting Nature’s Toothbrushes
Long before toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste existed, certain foods played a role in keeping plaque off our teeth. Eating crunchy vegetables or fruits with the skin on can scrub off plaque. Carrots, apples, cucumbers, and many other raw fruits and vegetables are teeth-friendly, despite the sugar they contain. In addition, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods helps protect you from obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
Plaque Habit No. 5: Indulging Your Sweet Tooth
Bacteria love simple carbohydrates like sugar. Eating candy or drinking sugary soft drinks lets sugar stick to our teeth, giving bacteria something to munch on. As the bacteria create a film of plaque, they digest sugar into acid, which damages teeth.
Avoiding these five bad habits can help you keep plaque in check (and keep your teeth).
No one’s teeth can stay plaque-free 24 hours a day, it’s just not possible…but good habits over a lifetime will help you beat back plaque and save your smile.
