Medically Reviewed By Colgate Global Scientific Communications
Plaque is a sticky biofilm that develops on teeth as a result of the bacteria that naturally live in the mouth. And as scary as it sounds, it happens to everyone. If you have to deal with plaque, what you do about it determines how healthy your teeth and gums are. When left alone, plaque on teeth turns into tartar and can increase your risk for cavities or gum disease.
What Causes Plaque on Teeth
Your mouth contains a lot of bacteria that collect on the surfaces of your teeth and create this bacterial film, which often starts at the gumline. The development of plaque is completely normal and, to most dentists, to be expected. It's when the bacteria mixes with sugar and produces acids that a problem develops. If you eat a lot of sugary or sweet foods – or those that contain a lot of simple carbohydrates – the bacteria in your mouth actually feed on these sugars if you let them linger on the surface of your teeth.
Why You Should Care About It
Tooth decay and cavities are the first two problems that can occur if plaque on teeth is left to build up. Acids that wear away your teeth's enamel lead to tooth decay, and if these acids aren't cleaned off, they can continue through the dentin to the pulp of the tooth. Ignoring this plaque can eventually lead to the development of an abscess or bacterial infection inside the teeth, according to Mayo Clinic . Preventing cavities or an abscess is simple, but it starts with removing plaque on a daily basis.
If you don't brush or floss regularly, plaque can also harden into tartar – which doesn't need much time to form. Tartar can develop in just a day if you forget to brush, and although plaque isn't usually visible on the teeth, tartar does stain and turn brown or yellow. Along with being aesthetically unpleasant, tartar can irritate your gums, leading to gingivitis. It's also a lot more difficult to remove than plaque, as brushing and flossing alone won't take it off. You'll need to see a dentist to remove any tartar buildup.
Treating Plaque on Teeth
You can't keep plaque from forming, but you can be proactive about removing it to avoid any negative effects and minimize the resulting tartar. Brushing your teeth twice a day using a toothpaste such as Colgate Total ® Clean Mint in which the fluoride formula strengthens teeth to prevent cavities– as well as flossing at least once a day to get the areas in between – will reduce the buildup of plaque before it turns to tartar and it's out of your hands. Limiting the amount of sugary foods you eat can also help you take control by keeping your mouth's natural bacteria from spreading.
Consider stimulating your saliva glands as well, as saliva can rinse bacteria off of your teeth constantly during the day. Rinsing your mouth with water after a meal can increase the amount of saliva in your mouth, minimizing plaque on teeth in the long term. According to the American Dental Association (ADA) , chewing one piece of sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after eating has been shown to prevent decay and cavities in the same way.
If you're worried about plaque or tartar building up on your teeth, seeing a dentist on a regular basis is crucial. Your dentist or dental hygienist can scrape away the tartar you can't remove yourself and inspect for signs of cavities or gum disease. You can minimize all the damage done by plaque at home, so working with your dental professionals can help make your mouth as healthy as you deserve it to be.
