Learn About Plaque from Our Coral Springs Dental Office.
Learn About Plaque from Our Coral Springs Dental Office.
What is one of the best things that you can do at home to keep your teeth pearly white? Besides brushing and flossing daily, doing your most to prevent plaque is important. Have you ever had that filmy feeling on your teeth, almost like a coating over your teeth? Well, that is plaque. Typically colorless, you know it is there when you have that coating on your teeth. Also, when you see our dentist and hygienists at our Coral Springs office, we make sure to look out for any buildup and will advise you on how to best take care of the plaque.
Can Plaque Be Eliminated From Your Mouth?
Yes, you may keep a good oral hygiene regimen, but, plaque still is produced on your teeth, this goes for everyone. Once you have brushed your teeth, it only takes a few hours for plaque to start forming. Plaque contains bacteria that grows on the surface of your mouth. Then, left untreated, forms into tartar. Simply by eating and drinking, plaque forms. Plaque comes about from the combination of saliva and food, bacteria starts to naturally grow, and it will form on your teeth and gums. Plaque is a natural process that takes place in your mouth, and really, there is nothing to completely prevent it. However, getting rid of plaque before it turns into tartar is the key.
What Happens When Plaque is Left Untreated?
So, since you can’t prevent plaque, how can you help to stop it from forming into tartar? Also, what is tartar and why is it a problem? With the progression of plaque, tartar will form. This will lead to gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gum tissue, this happens when plaque attaches to the surface of your tooth. The signs and symptoms of gingivitis are swollen gums, painful gums, bleeding after brushing and flossing, and even bad breath. When gingivitis is not treated, it leads to periodontitis. Periodontitis affects the tissues that are around the teeth, which leads to the loss of the alveolar bone. If this is not treated, you will start to have loose teeth that will come out. Signs of periodontitis would be bleeding while eating hard foods, constantly swollen gums, a metallic taste in your mouth, a lengthening of the teeth and later, loose teeth. Have you ever flossed and felt a little piece of something hard come loose from in between your teeth? Your first reaction may be that you chipped your tooth, however, it is more likely that you have broken off a piece of tartar from your gum line. Plaque is commonly found in the small gaps that are in between your teeth, especially in the back of your mouth. This is the reason that proper flossing and brushing habits need to take place. When you brush and floss regularly as well as properly, you are fighting plaque buildup!
Now knowing what plaque can lead to, I am sure that you understand the importance of taking care of your teeth as well as seeing your dentist in Coral Springs regularly. What can you do at home to reduce the risk of plaque and tartar build up? By brushing at least two times a day for two to three minutes with a soft bristle brush, as well as flossing at least one time a day, you will be getting rid of the constant forming plaque. It is shown in studies that an electric toothbrush may work better than manuals, but it is your choice. Whichever toothbrush that you decide upon, it should be a soft bristled one and approved by the ADA. Also, include a mouthwash that states that it reduces plaque and follow the instructions on how to use it. If regular mouthwash is too strong for you, try one without alcohol in it, this type may not irritate your mouth like the others. When purchasing toothpaste, look for ones that indicate that they are designed for reducing tartar with fluoride as an ingredient. Sugary foods and starchy foods multiply in your mouth, so limiting the intake of these foods is helpful in reducing plaque buildup.
Only Our Coral Springs Dental Office can Remove Tartar Buildup.
Preventing plaque which leads to tartar is the easy part, once tartar forms, it is not so easy to get rid of on your own. When tartar forms in-between your teeth, only your Coral Springs dentist or oral hygienist can remove it. The process for removing tartar buildup that the hygienist will perform is called scaling. What happens with scaling is the hygienist or dentist will use a specially made tool to remove the tartar from your teeth and around the gumline. Depending on the amount of tartar buildup, you may need to visit the dentist many times in order to remove it all.
You Are in Good hands At Our Coral Springs Dental Office.
You are in good hands at our Coral Springs Dental office! When you come in for a cleaning and learn that you have tartar build up, you may cringe at the idea of scaling, but we will do our best to keep you comfortable during the procedure. Once the tartar is removed, we can set up a preventative regimen with you to ensure that you are doing what is necessary to keep tartar at bay. One of our wonderful dental hygienists is Cindy Yeager, Cindy has been practicing dental hygiene for more than 20 years and is constantly taking courses to continue her education. By expanding her skills and applying new techniques, she offers the best care to her patients. Call us today at Barbag Dental in Coral Springs, we are always taking new patients and we also accept most dental plans including PPO’s. If extensive work is needed, we offer financing options with CareCredit. CareCredit is a line of credit used tor treatments and procedures that you need.
