Dental Plaque - Its Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments

Dental emergencies or dental problems involve various diseases and complications. They come with multiple diseases and are indeed disturbing. One such type of disease caused by a dental emergency is Dental Plaque. In this disease, a mass of bacteria grows within the surface of the mouth. A plaque is a sticky, colorless covering of bacteria and sugar that continually grows on the teeth. Most of the times it is brown or pale yellow. 

These plaques, if left untreated, can turn into tartar, and they can increase the risk of various gum diseases afterward.

 

Dental Plaque

Causes 

There are multiple reasons which cause dental plaque, some of these are: 

1. Foods rich in carbohydrates or simple sugars such as soft drinks and candies leads to the formation of dental plaques as they provide a suitable environment for the bacteria to grow and create the deposits that get accumulated on teeth surface. 
2. If a person is not maintaining proper hygiene, then there are higher chances for this problem as it gives the most desirable place for the bacteria to grow, which is the main reason of this dental plaque. Also, leaving the mouth unclean after eating food such as milk, soft drinks, etc. helps the bacteria to thrive on these food-producing acids as a result, which eventually leads to a problem like the decay of tooth. 
3. A dry mouth is caused by a lack of saliva. Saliva helps in washing away the plaque from your mouth, and therefore, its deficiency is another frequent cause of dental plaque formation. 
4. In cases where the gums get pulled away from the teeth, plaque builds on the roots of the teeth. 

Symptoms Of Dental Plaque 

Some symptoms, which help you identify the arrival of dental plaque, are: 

1. The color of the teeth is the foremost thing which gives a bright idea about this disorder. As in cases of plaque when it calcifies, it becomes yellow or brownish that is very easy to see. 
2. Also, it becomes rough and porous over time and leads to easy absorption of stains from substances like wine, tea, coffee, etc. All this will let you know that you have a build-up problem and it’s time to see a dentist. 
3. People sometimes may experience bad breath due to the formation of this plaque by the bacteria’s. 
4. In some cases, people may also experience symptoms like pain or bleeding gums which can also be an indicator of the dental plaque. 

Bleeding Gums Is The Sign Of Dental Plaque

Prevention And Treatment Of Dental Plaque 

To all these problems there are various treatments and precautions which one can follow, and they are: 

1. Proper oral hygiene is the best thing you can do on your own to prevent dental plaque to occur. It prevents the plaque build-up so that it doesn't harden into calculus. Hygiene can be maintained by brushing your teeth at least twice per day to clean your teeth throughout. 
2. Your diet is also a significant thing you can look up to prevent these disorders. The bacteria’s love sugary and starchy food, so consuming a lot of this kind of food provides the bacteria with the best sources to survive and produce more plaque. Reducing the consumption of such food can help in reducing the plaque build-up. 
3. Visit your dentist every six months to get an idea about plaques or some other disorders. It has been found that the adults who see their doctor regularly are less prone to plaque-related dental issues. 
4. Choose the toothpaste and toothbrush carefully. A toothpaste such as an anti-plaque fluoride toothpaste can be helpful in removing it. 
5. One should also avoid smoking to reduce the chances of increased plaques. 
6. One can also consider stimulating the saliva as they help in rinsing the bacteria off of your teeth. It can be done by rinsing your mouth with water after a meal; it will increase the volume of spit in your oral cavity which will minimize the plaques on teeth for a prolonged period. 

So, if you are worried about plaque or tartar being building upon your teeth, you should follow these preventions, and also you need to see your dentist on a regular basis. The dentist you choose should provide you with the best environment, and their work should also be of top quality. 

Dr. Roman Fedorciw, a Rocky Hill Dentist, suggests selecting the one who is highly professional, friendly and punctual about their work and towards their patients.