You know that plaque is harmful to your smile, but do you know exactly how this substance works to damage your oral health? Here are three ways that plaque can lead to long-term consequences for your teeth and gums!

Plaque Buildup Can Increase Your Risk for Periodontal Disease

Brushing and flossing your teeth go a long way towards removing plaque. However, even the most thorough brushing and flossing routines are bound to miss some plaque. The plaque that gets left behind from where your toothbrush or floss don’t reach can turn into tartar, a hard substance that can only be removed by your dentist.

Both plaque and tartar can build up around the gumline and increase your risk for periodontal disease, also called gum disease [1]. When not removed regularly, the bacteria in plaque can irritate the gum tissue and lead to red, swollen, or infected gums.

Cavities and Sensitive Teeth Can Happen Due to Plaque

Plaque sticks to your teeth and coats your tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, and it coats each and every one of your teeth, protecting the softer tissues underneath and helping your smile stay bright.

The bacteria in plaque can produce harsh acids, which can attack your tooth enamel, causing it to wear away [2]. Unfortunately, once tooth enamel is gone, it can’t regrow. With the enamel gone, the tooth is unprotected and cavities can begin to form. When tooth enamel wears away in this way, it can also cause you to have sensitive teeth.

Without your enamel, temperatures can reach the inner nerves of your teeth, causing painful sensitivity to hot, cold, and even sweet and spicy foods.

Plaque Can Cause Discolored Teeth and Bad Breath

Plaque buildup can cause discolored teeth as a result of tooth enamel damage. The layer beneath your tooth enamel, called dentin, is a softer tissue and naturally has a more yellowish hue.

When tooth enamel gets worn away due to plaque, dentin can begin to show through, leading to discolored teeth that may appear more yellow and stain easier.

Plaque buildup can also lead to chronic bad breath [3]. While not harmful in and of itself, chronic bad breath is usually a sign that another condition is present, such as periodontal disease, which can also result from plaque.

Is Plaque Affecting Your Smile?

Even with regular brushing and flossing, plaque can still affect your smile. If you’re suffering from sensitive teeth, inflamed gum tissue, or chronic bad breath, plaque could be impacting your oral health. An exam and cleaning with your dentist can remove harmful plaque, helping you maintain a strong and bright smile for life!

Sources:
1. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2010/07/mind-your-mouth
2. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-teeth-and-mouth#tooth-decay

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However, you can be too aggressive with your flossing to the point that you actually damage
your teeth and gums. When done incorrectly, harsh flossing can cause a host of problems.
Here’s how you can know if you’re hurting your smile by flossing too aggressively!

You Allow Floss to Damage Your Gumline

Many people forget that it’s your teeth you’re supposed to be flossing, not your gums. Some
people pull too hard on the floss to try and get it in between their teeth and end up pulling the
floss down hard on their gums.

Allowing floss to get underneath your gumline, especially if it’s in a harsh manner, actually
injures your gums. It can cause your gums to bleed in the short term and even worse, can cause
them to recede and accelerate gum disease in the long term.

Allowing floss to hurt your gumline doesn’t help remove plaque. Instead, it can open up spaces
for bacteria to enter your gums and tooth roots, leading to painful infections and even tooth
decay and gum disease.

You Floss Numerous Times a Day

Flossing numerous times a day increases the chances that you’re hurting your teeth and gums.
Flossing your teeth too much can hurt the gumline, which can expose your tooth’s root.

You only need to floss once per day for effective results, especially if you floss gently and
correctly to remove plaque from in between your teeth. If you need to floss again due to
something being stuck in your teeth, this is fine, just try not to make a regular practice out of
flossing numerous times every day!

You’re Too Enthusiastic When Flossing

Some people use floss too enthusiastically, which can hurt both the teeth and the gums.
Forcing floss against the gums or the teeth and using too much pressure can hurt the gums and
even wear away tooth enamel over time.

Digging underneath your gumline with floss isn’t necessary. Flossing should be done with some
pressure, but not excessive pressure. Just like brushing, it’s important to do this task gently for
best results.

If you’re confused about how to floss correctly, ask your dentist to demonstrate during your
next checkup. Many people experience receding gums, gum disease, and root cavities without
realizing that the main problem may actually be their harmful flossing habits!

Don’t skip flossing just because you aren’t sure how to do it correctly or you’re afraid that
you’re harming your teeth. Remember, gums usually bleed because you haven’t flossed in a
while. However, if they bleed regularly while flossing, you may need to floss more gently.
Schedule a checkup with your dentist to review your flossing techniques to protect and
enhance your smile instead of harming it!

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Regardless of what’s holding you back from visiting your dentist, keep in mind that there are few things
scarier than the consequences of skipping your annual teeth cleaning. Consider the following health
risks before you decide to forgo that essential dentist appointment!

Gum Disease

With nearly half the adult population of America having some form of gum disease, this might seem like
a common problem that’s not a big deal. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

Gum disease happens when plaque from inadequate oral care builds up around your gum tissue and can
cause inflammation, bleeding, and infection. Without treatment, gum disease is one of the leading
causes of tooth loss in older adults.

In addition, the inflammation and bacteria present in gum disease have been linked to many other
health conditions. From heart disease to diabetes to cancer, research is finding more and more that gum
disease could be linked to disease within the body.

Tooth Decay

Without a professional cleaning, it’s highly unlikely you’re reaching all the areas in your mouth that you
need to in order to remain plaque-free. When plaque is allowed to build up, it can turn into tartar, which
can only be removed by a dentist.

Tooth decay is an unfortunate result of unmanaged plaque. By skipping your annual cleaning, plaque is
allowed to harm your tooth enamel, which can lead to cavities that will need professional treatment.
Having cavities isn’t just inconvenient—it’s damaging to your oral health and can be costly as well. With
a simple professional cleaning, you can help prevent cavities and enjoy a smile free of tooth decay.

Teeth Staining

Besides helping to prevent gum disease and tooth decay, regular cleanings help lift surface stains out of
your tooth enamel. Through regularly removing these stains, your smile remains as bright as possible
without additional treatment.

Although your regular oral care habits at home can help remove stains daily as well, a professional
cleaning can more effectively get rid of those stains. In addition, skipping your cleaning can allow stains
to build up, which can make it harder to remove them later on, even with a professional teeth
whitening.

Greater Risk of Unhappiness

Recent research suggests that skipping regular dental appointments could lead to poorer quality of life,
as people who avoided the dentist tended to have cavities, gum disease, and missing teeth, therefore giving them more anxiety and less happiness about life due to their compromised smile.

Instead of being anxious about your smile or depressed about missing teeth, simply schedule a dentist
appointment at least once a year to keep your smile as healthy as possible!

When was the last time you saw the dentist? Your dentist plays a crucial role in keeping your smile
healthy and disease-free—and who doesn’t want that? No matter how long it’s been since you’ve had a
professional teeth cleaning, reach out to your local dentist today to reveal your beautiful smile!

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Orthodontic treatment isn’t just for looks. Straight teeth actually encourage a healthy oral
cavity, which means a reduced risk for numerous dental health issues—but why is this?
Here are just a few reasons why straight teeth can encourage a healthy smile for life!

Proper Alignment Eliminates Jaw Issues

The temporomandibular joint, commonly referred to as TMJ, is one of the most complex joints
in your body. It joins the bottom part of your jaw to the top part. Since this joint allows us to
chew and move our mouths in a variety of ways, any issues that arise with this complex joint
can be painful.

A misaligned bite, also referred to as a malocclusion, can cause pain in the face and jaw. Many
people experience overbites, underbites, crossbites, or open bites as a result of misaligned
teeth. When left untreated, these bites can cause chronic pain when chewing or speaking.
Fortunately, orthodontic treatment can correct these problems and enable you to have a pain-
free smile with no more jaw or bite issues!

Easier to Clean and Take Care Of

Crooked teeth or crowded teeth can be nearly impossible to clean properly. The tight spaces in-
between teeth are the perfect places for bacteria, plaque, and food debris to hide. Sometimes,
even the best brushers and flossers can’t get into these tight spaces, making tooth decay and
gum disease more likely.

With orthodontic treatment, all the teeth are moved into their proper positions. This not only
gives you straight, even teeth, but also provides you with a better foundation for your oral
health, as you’ll be able to brush and floss without any issues. Straighter teeth are easier to
clean and take care of, reducing your risk for oral health problems.

Prevent Problems with Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

In addition to being easier to clean, straighter teeth help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Misaligned teeth not only provide places for bacteria to hide, but they can also prevent people
from seeking the care they need to have a healthy smile.

People with crooked or crowded teeth may be self-conscious of their smile, leading them to
avoid the dentist despite any problems they may encounter. When a straight smile is possible,
people tend to want to take care of their smiles and will seek treatment to keep their smile
looking beautiful.

Whether or not you received orthodontic care as a child doesn’t have to impact your oral
health today. Nearly 25% of all people who have braces are adults. With many treatment
options today to get your smile in shape, in addition to many orthodontists offering payment
plans, your treatment is more achievable than ever.

Don’t let your smile prevent you from having a healthy oral cavity. With straighter teeth, your
smile is easier to care for and you won’t experience the daily pain of having an improper bite.
With a healthy smile, you’ll be ready to take on the world!

The post How Do Straighter Teeth Promote Oral Health? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Due to the grooves of teeth and hard-to- reach back teeth, spots get missed and plaque can
build up. When plaque isn’t consistently removed, it can turn into tartar, where it will need to
be removed by a dentist.

The following are important places you should brush in your mouth that many people miss. Are
you missing these places? Read on to find out more!

Gums

Although our teeth are the main focus of our brushing routine, the gumline should get some
attention, too. This is where your gums meet your teeth. Most oral healthcare professionals
recommend brushing with your toothbrush head angled down at a 45-degree angle towards
the gum-line to remove any food and bacteria trapped there.

It’s essential to be gentle when brushing your teeth and gums, especially if you have gum
disease or are experiencing gum recession. Brush carefully, ensuring you clean your gumline
while still giving your teeth enough attention.

Tongue

Many people also neglect to brush their tongue as part of their regular oral care routine.
Brushing your tongue is important—but why?

Your tongue is home to bacteria just like the rest of your mouth. It can cause bad breath when
not regularly cleaned, allowing bacteria and food particles to get trapped by mucus on the
surface of your tongue.

Fortunately, brushing your tongue is simple enough and doesn’t require any additional tools
besides your regular toothbrush. Start in the back of your mouth and brush towards the front
when it comes to your tongue and rinse with water afterwards. You don’t need much pressure
to get your tongue clean with your toothbrush, so again, carefulness and consistency is the best
way!

Back Sides of Front Teeth

While many people are relatively savvy at brushing all sides of their molars, the big teeth in the
back of the mouth, the front teeth are often overlooked.

These missed areas include the back of your front bottom teeth and the back of your front top
teeth, which include your incisors, canines, and laterals. Tartar can easily build up here if you’re
consistently missing these places when you brush.

Yes, brushing behind your front teeth will require some maneuvering with your toothbrush, but
once you get into the habit of it, these places will no longer feel difficult to reach. Beware of
hidden plaque in these areas—if you can feel the fuzzy texture of plaque on the back sides of
your front teeth, be sure not to miss these places when you brush today!

Do you commonly miss these essential places in your mouth to brush? From brushing the
gumline to your tongue to the back sides of your front teeth, getting all these areas is important
for removing plaque. Remember that a professional cleaning every six months can enhance
your oral care routine and ensure you’re not missing any spots!

The post Are You Missing These Important Places When You Brush? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

When you wake up in the morning, your mouth feels dry and you likely need a drink shortly after waking. This is because while we sleep, our mouths aren’t producing as much saliva. Not only does this make our teeth and gums vulnerable to bacteria that reside in our mouths, but your vulnerability is increased when you skip brushing.

Dry mouth along with the bacteria from unremoved plaque creates an acidic environment in which your tooth enamel is at risk and tooth decay and gum disease can actively work to ruin your smile.

Bacteria and Plaque Take Over

Due to the fact that your dry mouth creates the ideal environment for bad bacteria, plaque and bacteria take over your mouth while you’re sleeping when you skip brushing. Plaque can begin to harden and irritate your gum line, and your body reacts by engaging your immune system to try and fight what it perceives as an infection. So your body is actually working harder while you sleep when you don’t brush!

Bacteria can also attack your tooth enamel, which can lead to eroded enamel over time and cause cavities and tooth decay, not to mention sensitive teeth. Skipping brushing creates opportunities for your smile to be more affected by bacteria that would normally be removed with nightly brushing before your hours of rest.

The Important Thing

You can protect your smile during your beauty sleep by brushing and flossing before bed. If you don’t have time to floss, save it for the morning—once a day is enough. When it comes to brushing, however, you can better your chances of oral health success by aiming to brush twice a day.

If you forget to brush before bed once in a while, this likely won’t have a huge impact on your smile. The important thing is to not make a habit of it. If you’re going to bed a few nights a week without brushing, you’re putting your beautiful smile at risk for enamel erosion, cavities, gum disease, and plaque buildup. A two-minute brush before bed can prevent this from happening!

Skipping your nightly oral care routine shouldn’t be something you do regularly. Proper brushing before bed for about two minutes is something you should be making a habit of! Remove bacteria and plaque, protect your smile, and reduce your chances of problems with your teeth and gums with nightly brushing. Skipping this simple task has more consequences than you think!

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What Is Plaque?

Nearly everybody has some plaque in their mouth at any given time. Plaque forms over teeth between your twice-daily brushing and is soft and sticky. It can take as little as eight hours to form. It forms on teeth and most notably around the gum line. Plaque is composed of bacteria that includes particles from food and your own saliva.

Luckily for patients, plaque is easily removed with proper brushing and flossing. Regular dental checkups are also important because there are places plaque can hide, especially if you have overcrowded or misaligned teeth. If plaque isn’t removed on a regular basis via your daily brushing, it can damage your teeth and gums and eventually turn into tartar.

What Is Tartar?

Tartar is a hard substance that forms from plaque that’s left to build up on your teeth. It has a hard appearance and is generally obvious once it forms due to its color (which can range from yellow to brown). Plaque can progress to tartar over time, and tartar can grow in your mouth if nothing is done about it.

Once tartar forms, it can only be removed by a professional oral health care specialist such as your local dentist. Since tartar is very hard and porous, trying to remove it yourself will cause more damage than good. If not removed, tartar can lead to tooth decay and gum disease and eventually tooth loss.

Your dentist will carefully remove the tartar with special instruments and perform a deep cleaning which includes your gums. Sometimes tartar can form below your gums, in which case surgery would be needed to properly remove and treat the tartar.

How to Avoid Buildup of Plaque That Leads to Formation of Tartar

Plaque is common and is a daily occurrence in most patients, depending on how often they brush and their brushing skills. Regular checkups can also help your dentist determine problem areas in your mouth, such as where plaque easily forms and what you can do about it.

To avoid plaque formation, simply brush twice a day and floss once a day. It’s that easy! Hard brushing isn’t needed and can actually cause further damage to your enamel. It doesn’t take a lot of force to remove plaque—gentle brushing with a quality toothbrush will do the trick. Flossing once a day can help remove plaque in places that your toothbrush can’t reach!

If you already have tartar forming on your teeth or suspect you have tartar, don’t ignore it! The tartar can and will get worse if not removed professionally. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to remove the tartar. Your dentist can help you adopt healthy practices that will lead to a healthy smile for life!

Image courtesy of Fotographic1980 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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How Does Plaque Form?

Plaque forms from a lack of proper brushing and flossing that’s usually combined with a poor diet consisting of many sugars and refined flours, which can lead to a buildup of plaque in the mouth. The bacteria in plaque can cause damage to your enamel and can eventually lead to tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis, which is the beginning of periodontal (gum) disease.Plaque can form in as little as 24 hours of not brushing. Over time, plaque can turn into tartar, which typically forms along the gum line and can only be removed professionally. Once plaque forms, it can still be removed. The sooner you remove plaque, the better, as it can be damaging to teeth the more time it has to form!

Preventing Plaque

Preventing plaque is as simple as engaging in proper brushing and flossing habits as well as eating a healthy diet. Foods like apples, carrots, and celery for snacks as opposed to cookies or pre-packaged foods can actually help clean your teeth, whereas sugars that sit on your teeth can become corrosive within minutes of being left in your mouth. In addition, sugars also contribute to the bacteria and acidic environment of your mouth, which can lead to even more problems with your smile!

Flossing once a day is ideal, but you may consider flossing more if food gets easily stuck between your teeth. Brushing once a day is enough, but twice a day is ideal. Proper brushing is more important than vigorous brushing, which can actually harm your teeth! Talk with your dentist about those hard-to-reach places in your mouth and which toothbrush and brushing techniques would be ideal for you.

Keeping Up with Plaque

It’s easy to keep up with plaque. Visiting your dentist is crucial because your dentist will be able to give your teeth a thorough cleaning and talk with you about all the places in your mouth you may not be reaching with your toothbrush. Even with proper brushing, spots can still be missed. Places in-between your teeth are particularly difficult to get, so this is why flossing is ideal. Remove food particles and bacteria from in-between tight spaces with floss.

Preventing plaque is easy, and as plaque can turn into a variety of other dental problems such as tartar, gingivitis, and cavities, brushing and flossing is very beneficial. Keeping up with plaque is as easy as getting regular checkups with your dentist, brushing and flossing, and making health snack and beverage choices during the day!

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Hardened plaque is called calculus, or more commonly, tartar. Tartar on the teeth has to be scraped off. Normal brushing and flossing at home can remove most of the plaque from your teeth so that it never develops into tartar, but it is not uncommon for some of it to be left behind. Plaque and tartar irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease.

At a dental office, gingivitis can be reversed with a professional cleaning. A dentist or dental hygienist first removes all plaque and tartar from the teeth with professional dental instruments. A thorough cleaning that often includes a fluoride treatment leaves the mouth and teeth clean and free from plaque and tartar.

If gingivitis is not treated, tartar can eventually start to spread below the gum line. This is called periodontitis, and it requires more than a simple cleaning. A deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing, scrapes away the tartar on the teeth and below the gum line. The surface of the tooth roots are then smoothed to allow the gums to properly reattach. This is a non-surgical procedure, but surgery sometimes does become necessary for severe cases of periodontitis.

Because bacteria are always in our mouths, and because we have to eat, it is impossible to prevent plaque from developing in the first place. Good oral hygiene that includes brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day will help to keep plaque under control and prevent gum disease, but the majority of people get gum disease at some time in their lives. Regular visits to the dentist for check ups will catch gingivitis before it has a chance to become periodontitis.

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