While growing up, we were taught that sugar is detrimental to the teeth, but why? The answer to this lies in the two causes of cavities and other dental issues: plaque and tartar. Excellent dental hygiene and biannual dental checkups can stop them from causing problems with the teeth. Learn more about plaque and tartar and why removing them from your teeth is essential.
Plaque is a bacteria-filled sheet that forms on the teeth. Everyone has a number of bacteria living in their mouth at any given time. These bacteria bind with sugars in the debris trapped on the teeth. You may feel safe because you have not eaten dessert or candy recently, but you should know that all carbohydrates degrade into sugars as well.
If these sugars are not cleaned off the teeth and bacteria have a field day on them, plaque forms in the mouth. The main issue with the plaque is that the bacteria responsible produce acid residue that predisposes the teeth to decay. If the situation is not managed immediately, the decay can deteriorate into cavities, gum diseases and a series of dental issues.
When plaque stays too long on the teeth, it hardens into tartar. One essential point to know about tartar is that you cannot remove it with regular toothbrushes and flossers.
Tartar threatens the quality of your smile in several ways. It creates a conducive environment for plaque to spread further. Tartar also promotes teeth staining, especially with people who love drinking coffee, tea and red wine.
If you have plaque or tartar, cleaning them away from your teeth should be your primary concern. The dentist has the expertise, tools and technology to clean even the most hard-to-reach and challenging tartar.
Scaling and root planing is the method used for cleaning plaque and tartar extending to the gum line. Tartar forming along the gum line is a threat to your oral health because it could cause pockets in the gums, resulting in gingivitis (first stage of gum disease). It is vital to treat gingivitis immediately before it worsens into periodontitis or advanced gum disease, which may lead to tooth loss.
The best way to avoid the formation of plaque is to maintain an excellent brushing and flossing routine. Experts recommend brushing at least twice daily and flossing once to clean debris away from the teeth. However, your meal choices contribute to the level of plaque that forms on the teeth.
You should generally limit the consumption of meals with high sugar content such as bread and pastries or acidic drinks like diet sodas to prevent them from causing damage to your dentition.
The major reason to clean plaque and the resulting tartar is to stop potential dental issues such as cavities and gingivitis. Once you see signs of plaque or tartar on your teeth, book an appointment with your dentist to have them cleaned.
Request an appointment here: https://dragonflydentalportcharlotte.com or call Dragonfly Dental of Port Charlotte at (941) 676-9225 for an appointment in our Port Charlotte office.
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