What is dental plaque

When you buy a product for oral hygiene, it usually says that it fights the “plaque”, something that is not very clear in the minds of many people. The dentist also tells you that you have to brush your teeth to fight dental plaque, but you still do not understand. Read on to finally understand what the mysterious plaque that affects the health of your teeth is about.

The plaque is an invisible layer composed of bacteria that forms when flour and sugars that remain in the teeth meet with him as bacteria that live in the mouth normally. If you brush your teeth according to the recommendations, that is, at least twice a day or after each meal, the plaque disappears. However, as in the mouth bacteria constantly float, the plaque is recreated. That is, in 24 hours, there is plaque again even though you have brushed your teeth.

When the plaque builds up for more than two days, it can harden and stay in the dental base, just where the gum ends and the teeth begin. To this hard plate it is called tartar or calculus. The tartar makes the plate difficult to remove and also acts as a reserve for bacteria. This certainly irritate your gums and cause gingivitis (gum inflammation), bad breath and tooth decay.

Tartar cannot be removed by brushing or by flossing. It is necessary for a dentist to use a professional technique that only he or she can use to get rid of tartar. However, you can prevent plaque formation and therefore the formation of tartar and tooth decay if you follow the golden rule of oral hygiene:

Brush after every meal (or at least twice a day) and flossing

You can also use a mouthwash that helps prevent plaque formation up to 12 hours, feed healthily, avoid sugary foods and drinks and of course, visit your dentist or dentist often. If you avoid the formation of bacterial plaque, you will avoid suffering from tartar, gingivitis, cavities and bad breath. That is, you will enjoy excellent oral health.