Do You Actually Know What Dental Plaque Is? – Braces Las Vegas

Dental plaque is something we hear often, but most of us do not fully understand. Here’s an interesting fact: about 70% of the population suffers from dental disease. Why is this? The answer is simple: dental plaque.

The earlier you start, the easier the routine becomes.

This plaque begins from a chemical reaction in our mouth when our bodies break down food into carbohydrates as we’re chewing it. After this occurs, it begins to mix with the saliva in our mouth which creates an acid that can eat away at our teeth. This is why dentists often advise against sugary substances or other sources of carbohydrate consumption such as soft drinks, milk, pastries, etc. It causes our mouths to produce more of this “acid” that eats away at our teeth gradually over time. We’re not the only ones who enjoy sugar, our mouths love it too… for a different reason.

The Good News

The good news about dental plaque is during its beginning stages, it’s generally a soft substance that can be brushed away with a toothbrush and some toothpaste.

Here’s where it gets interesting. When you do not brush your teeth on a consistent basis, or you miss certain spots in your teeth that are hard to reach, then the dental plaque that has been sitting on your teeth begins to harden. This hardening process converts dental plaque into dental tartar, which is much harder to remove.

This is why visiting your Las Vegas dentist is important: to take care of the areas of your mouth that you had missed. The scraping aspect of a dental cleaning is your dentist literally scraping away this tartar that has formed on your teeth, preventing tooth decay.

Tooth decay is the main result of dental plaque build-up that has formed over time. Tooth decay is the beginning process that can lead to a slippery slope.

It’s literally impossible to have a plaque-free mouth daily, but by staying active in your dental regimen, we can keep our plaque levels down to a healthy minimum. Having braces or other orthodontic appliances does not serve as an excuse to dodge the routine. 

The Routine

·         Brush twice a day 

·         Floss at least once a day (preferably after every meal)

·         Consider using an antibacterial mouth rinse that aids in reducing plaque

·         Make sure to visit your dentist!

·         Watch what you eat (carbohydrates in particular, especially sugar)

 In short: dental plaque is the reason we brush our teeth, floss our teeth, and visit our dentist.