If you find yourself in the situation where your teeth in the mirror look stained, of a color that is not very white and, to make matters worse, very often you feel that you have bad breath, then you know that your problem is dental plaque, which we will now carefully analyze in this article to learn how to recognize, treat and prevent it.
Let's start with the basics: what is meant by bacterial plaque
The name itself carries with it an early definition. Plaque, in fact, is a coating of live bacteria that attack tooth enamel, extinguishing the vivid white color of a healthy smile and bringing with it a dirty feeling that creeps up to the inside of the gums.
Plaque, in fact, acts as a kind of film that goes over our teeth but can over time (if not treated properly) get into the gum area where the tooth finds its lodging and attack even the soft tissues with infections that can slowly develop into much more serious problems to be solved.
How plaque develops in our oral cavity
One of the main problems that do not help us to act properly on dental plaque is the fact that it is not initially visible to the human eye except when teeth begin to yellow.
By this time, plaque has already begun its process and tartar has also taken over, which is a natural hardening of plaque that is in no way removable except through the use of the dentist's professional instruments during a deep cleaning session.
An untreated tartar and plaque problem can escalate to inflammation to the point of bleeding and pain in our gums (periodontitis), and because bacteria are a living organism, they will continue to progress to the point of possible tooth loss or infection of areas near the jaw such as the ear or heart.
The tips and good habits to avoid plaque
There are key points to follow in order to be able to avoid or at least gradually mitigate the recreation of plaque in our oral cavity. Starting sai most obvious which are: maintaining excellent daily oral hygiene through toothbrush, mouthwash and flossing which is an ally of your teeth.
The latter, particularly if passed in the right way and consistently is the best tool for cutting through the film of dirt and effectively removing it before it crystallizes into tartar.
It is also good practice to visit your trusted dentist for a checkup and deep cleaning with the proper instruments at least once every six months. This will remove tartar, plaque and even any cavities that have formed in the meantime due to these bacteria.
The right attention at the table
Some people, unfortunately, despite paying close attention to daily hygiene may be genetically predisposed to the development of a lot of plaque in their teeth, and it is a problem also related to the acidity of the ph of saliva, which goes to deteriorate the enamel, somehow helping bacteria to make room for themselves and also recreating heavy breath.
A major resource of the army of bacteria that inhabit plaque is sugars. Plaque literally feeds on sugars to find ways to attack the gums and tooth surface.
A balanced diet low in harmful and sugary substances (sweets of all kinds but also alcohol or energy drinks) can be a way to slow the formation of plaque and tartar inside the mouth.
