The Sticky Truth About Dental Plaque (2024)

FAQs

The Sticky Truth About Dental Plaque? ›

In short, plaque is bacteria buildup. It typically manifests as a soft, sticky film on your teeth largely caused by the combination of saliva, food, and fluids. The bacteria that makes up plaque produces acids every time you eat or drink something. If removed in a timely manner, plaque is manageable.

When plaque builds up on your teeth, it eats away the enamel, causing cavities and decay. Plaque buildup can even cause gingivitis or severe periodontal (gum) disease. If the plaque becomes tartar, its bacteria can cause bad breath and turn your teeth yellow.

When compared with water, LISTERINE^® Antiseptic reduced dental plaque by 22.2% and gingivitis by 28.2% at 6 months. When compared with vehicle, LISTERINE^® Antiseptic reduced dental plaque by 20.8% and gingivitis by 27.7% at 6 months, respectively.

Although plaque scrapers can be purchased in some stores and online, it's not a good idea to use them yourself. Because plaque scrapers are sharp, improper use can damage the delicate gum tissue. Trauma to the gum tissue isn't just painful, it can also cause receding gums, exposing the sensitive roots of the teeth.

What is dental plaque? Dental plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. It's normal to produce plaque. But if you don't remove plaque with routine dental cleanings and daily brushing and flossing, it can cause cavities, gum disease and other oral health issues.

Plaque forms in your mouth every night as you sleep and during the day as you eat and drink. If you practice good oral hygiene, limit sugary foods and drinks, and see your dentist twice a year to have plaque thoroughly removed, you can keep its growth manageable.

Tooth decay can occur when acid is produced from plaque, which builds up on your teeth. If plaque is allowed to build up, it can lead to further problems, such as dental caries (holes in the teeth), gum disease or dental abscesses, which are collections of pus at the end of the teeth or in the gums.

Baking soda can effectively remove the plaque without damaging the outer covering of teeth— enamel. Baking soda is safe to use with no apparent side effects. Toothpaste containing baking soda is more potent against plaque than traditional toothpaste. Baking soda also prevents demineralization.

Can You Dissolve Tartar With Vinegar? Apple cider vinegar is a popular remedy for whitening teeth and removal of tartar deposits. While it is effective in chemically removing plaque from the teeth, apple cider vinegar can damage your teeth and gums.

White vinegar. The acetic acid in white vinegar has antibacterial properties and promotes demineralization of tooth enamel, making it effective in removing tartar and plaque. Add half a teaspoon of salt to half a cup of water and add two teaspoons of white vinegar to it. Stir it well and gargle the mixture twice a day.

Can I scrape off tartar myself? ›

Can I Remove Tartar Myself? Unfortunately, once plaque hardens into tartar, it is not likely a toothbrush and floss will remove it. Scraping tarter off your own with other tools is not a good idea. Because these tools require special training to use properly, you could do more harm than good to your smile.

Over time, plaque hardens into tartar or dental calculus. Tartar is hard since it contains minerals present in saliva. Thus, only a dentist can remove tartar from our teeth. But, sometimes, tartar might start breaking off of teeth if you brush aggressively.

Tartar removing toothpaste, baking soda, white vinegar and aloe vera all have antimicrobial properties which both treat and prevent tartar. The remaining at-home remedies focus on preventing plaque from hardening.

Can you reverse tooth decay naturally? No, you cannot fully reverse tooth decay through natural treatments, although hydroxyapatite toothpaste or calcium supplementation may stop demineralization and help remineralize some lost tooth structure.

When plaque stays on the teeth, it hardens and becomes tartar. Your tartar can turn black when it remains untreated, creating black stains along the gumline. Cavities can also cause black spots on and between your teeth, while black tartar is typically along the bottom of the teeth by your gums.

Dentists poke teeth during dental exams to identify cavities. If they find a potential cavity, they also poke that area to see how deep the tooth decay is in order to determine if you need filling.

Some toothpastes contain baking soda as it acts as a gentle abrasive to remove plaque from teeth. Make a paste by stirring a few drops of water with half a teaspoon of baking soda. Apply the paste to your teeth using your toothbrush and brush your teeth gently with the paste for one minute, then rinse well with water.

Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once daily can help remove plaque from teeth and prevent tartar from forming. Other home remedies that can prevent plaque buildup include brushing the teeth with baking soda toothpaste and using a water flosser.

Known as atherosclerosis, this fatty plaque is the hallmark of coronary artery disease. People with gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) have two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular event. But there may not be a direct connection.

Regardless of how hard you floss or brush, bacteria will inevitably increase in your mouth. They cling to food particles in your mouth, leading to the build of a yellow-pale deposit known as dental plaque. Plaque is a sticky film that forms under the gumline and on the surface of your teeth.