No matter how diligently we care for our smiles, plaque is constantly building up, day and night. That’s why it’s so important to combine at-home oral hygiene care with professional treatments. The best way to keep plaque at bay is to collaborate with your dental team.
Today, our Glendale dentists are giving you some more information about plaque development, and how plaque can affect oral health. Keep reading to learn more!
Plaque is a sticky film that contains harmful oral bacteria. As plaque develops, it coats a patient’s teeth as well as oral tissues. As oral bacteria feed on sugars and grow, they weaken dental enamel and gum tissue. Persistent plaque paves the way for cavity development and periodontal disease.
When you brush and floss as recommended by your dentist, you help to minimize the amount of time that plaque is able to affect your smile. Essentially, you’re attempting to clear away as much plaque as possible, so that it doesn’t compound over time.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when plaque is left alone, it hardens and calcifies to the tooth surface; this is called tartar. At this point in plaque’s development, it is virtually impossible for the patient to clear this way on his or her own at home. During your semi-annual professional cleaning, our dentist will clear away accumulated tartar. It’s our goal to give your smile a fresh, clean slate, so that you can then maintain it until your next appointment.
There’s nothing that we can do to completely prevent plaque production. Instead, we have to stay vigilant with day to day care and professional appointments. Our Glendale dentists are here to answer any questions that you may have, and to help you get your smile back on track. Give us a call to get started by scheduling a personal consultation!