Dental plaque is a thin film that accumulates on the surface of your teeth thanks to the bacteria that feed off the tiny particles of food left after a meal or snack. If this plaque is not regularly removed from teeth, it can begin to harden in as little as 48 hours. Once plaque hardens into tartar, you will need to visit our Los Angeles cosmetic dentist to have it professionally removed.

Plaque can lead to a host of oral health problems including tooth decay and gum disease, but good oral hygiene habits can help prevent it from accumulating in the first place. First, a soft-bristled toothbrush should be used to gently remove the plaque and bacteria from teeth twice a day. The tongue can also be brushed or scraped to further reduce bad breath-causing bacteria.

Flossing is the next step in maintaining good oral hygiene. Flossing removes plaque from between the teeth, where it can irritate gums and increase the risk of tooth decay. This area between the teeth can account for more than a third of your total tooth surfaces. That's a significant amount of tooth surface to miss when cleaning if you don't floss daily. After brushing and flossing, an anti-microbial mouth rinse can be used to further reduce bacteria, or a fluoridated mouth rinse can be used to strengthen teeth against decay, if desired.

Regular visits to our Los Angeles dentist are important to maintain your oral health as well. Visiting every six months can help our dentist monitor your health and ensure you have no signs of gum disease or decay. You will also receive a cleaning and polishing to remove any plaque or tartar that may have been missed during regular cleaning.

Source: Los Angeles Dentist

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