Plaque and tartar buildup can ruin your oral health. Fortunately, good oral hygiene and dental cleanings offered by your Worcester, MA, dentists, Dr. Amir Kasouha, Dr. Trushar Patel, and Dr. Jacqueline Jacobson of 64 Highland Dental, will help you keep your smile strong and healthy.
How plaque and tartar can damage your smile
Plaque, a sticky film that contains bacteria, builds up on your teeth throughout the day. The film can make your teeth feel rough and cause bad breath. Unfortunately, plaque also increases your risk of tooth decay.
A chemical reaction occurs in your mouth every time you eat foods or drink beverages that contain sugar or carbohydrates. (Carbohydrates are broken down into sugars when you chew foods.) The combination of sugar and bacteria creates acids that weaken your tooth enamel, making it easier for cavities to develop.
Tartar, a hard deposit, forms on your teeth if you've missed a few spots of plaque when brushing or flossing. Plaque turns into tartar if it remains on your teeth for as little as 10 days. Tartar tends to form at the bottoms of your teeth, causing gray or brown stains. The deposit irritates your gums and may increase your gum disease risk. Unlike plaque, tartar can't be removed by brushing or flossing.
What you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy
These steps can help you reduce plaque and tartar:
- Brush Twice Daily: Brushing your teeth twice a day is a very effective way of removing plaque. Spend at least two minutes brushing the fronts, backs, and sides of teeth.
- Floss Every Day: Flossing gets rid of plaque in the tight spaces between teeth.
- Brush Your Tongue: If you don't clean your tongue when you brush, plaque will coat your teeth just minutes after you finish brushing.
- Eat Healthy Foods: Reducing your intake of sugary and high-carb foods will help you avoid cavities and gum disease.
- Schedule a Dental Cleaning: Making an appointment for a dental cleaning at the Worcester office is a simple way to protect your oral health. Cleanings remove plaque from teeth and also get rid of hard tartar deposits.
Is it time for your next dental cleaning? Call (508) 926-8660 to schedule a cleaning and checkup with your dentists in Worcester, MA, Dr. Kasouha, Dr. Patel, and Dr. Jacobson of 64 Highland Dental.