How to Get Rid of Dental Plaque

Have you noticed a fuzzy coating on your teeth when you wake up in the morning? Without proper dental care, it can turn into a sticky film and that’s when you know that you have dental plaque. Symptoms include bad breath, red and swollen gums that bleed, among others. 

What Is Dental Plaque?

Plaque is a sticky layer of bacteria that accumulates on the teeth. The bacteria in the plaque attack the teeth’s enamel and cause cavities and gingivitis (gum disease). Plaque may be pale yellow or colorless. 

If you don’t brush your teeth after eating or drinking, it can result in forming plaque. After eating food, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Untreated plaque can harden within 24 to 72 hours and convert to tartar, which can only be cleaned by the dentist. 

What Causes It?

• When you have something sweet or starchy such as bread, milk, soft drinks, pasta, etc, the bacteria feed on these carbs and produce acid. These acids can cause cavities, gum disease, and other types of tooth decay. 
• People with smoking habits also tend to have plaque. 
• If you have bad breath due to medications like antidepressants, you may have this problem.
• Having a history of neck or head radiation can also cause this.

How to Get Rid of It

Managing plaque is quite simple. Regular dental care can usually remove and prevent plaque. 

1. Brush your teeth twice a day using good-quality fluoride toothpaste. It will remove plaque and prevent it from becoming tartar.
2. Use dental floss and interdental cleaners to remove the plaque. Ensure that there isn’t any plaque left. 
3. Visit the dentist at least once in 6 months for cleaning and checkup. Two major steps involved in a dental cleaning procedure are:

• Scaling - It is done using dental scaling tools. The plaque or tartar on the teeth is removed through scaling.
• Root planing - It helps in reducing the size of the gum pockets and thus minimizing the space where the plaque tends to occur. 

After these steps, you have to clean your mouth and the dentist will apply fluoride on the teeth.  This can help keep plaque formation at bay.

Varni Dental, located in San Jose, CA, is a well-equipped dental practice that offers patients the best dental care available. Call (408) 901-0101 to schedule a consultation with the Dentist San Jose CA to learn more about dental treatments and to have a comprehensive dental checkup.