What is Plaque?

Plaque is a dangerous substance that can accumulate throughout the body, causing serious side-effects to your health. Plaque that builds up in your arteries inhibits your blood flow from your heart to the rest of your body. This buildup can cause significant health issues that can put your life at risk. Another type of plaque is the dental plaque that accumulates inside your mouth on a daily basis. Many people think that ignoring this dental plaque is not so serious, but the truth is that it can lead to major oral health issues as well as issues that affect your entire body.

Dental plaque develops due to the millions of bacteria that are present inside your mouth. On any given day, these bacteria are at work trying to break down particles that are left behind inside the mouth after eating and drinking. While the bacteria intend to be helpful, the method in which they go about their work is exactly the opposite. As the bacteria inside the mouth find particles, they begin producing acids to help them break down the particles at a faster rate. As with all acids, the acids produced inside the mouth are extremely corrosive and damaging. The acids within the mouth begin eating through whatever is in their path – this being your tooth enamel and gum tissues once the food and beverage particles are gone.

The buildup of dental plaque is extremely dangerous to your oral health as well as your overall health. Diabetes and heart disease have been directly linked back to severe oral health, making it imperative that you make your oral health a priority. The only guaranteed way to combat the assault of plaque on your teeth and gums is to floss your teeth on a daily basis. Brushing the teeth is not enough because the bristles of a toothbrush are not qualified to do the job. They are too large to fit into the tight spaces between the teeth, and they do not get under plaque in order to remove it. Dental floss was specifically designed to slide underneath plaque and scrape it away from the teeth. If you are not flossing on a daily basis, then you are allowing plaque to build up on your teeth. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, a hard, calcified deposit that can only be removed through professional scraping at the dentist’s office.

At Pristine Dental, we want to partner with you to help you achieve and maintain optimal oral health. We encourage you to make your oral health a priority by flossing daily, brushing at least twice a day, and visiting the dentist on a regular basis. Call our practice today to schedule an appointment.