Life gives us just two sets of natural teeth in life, and the first set is lost fairly early on in life, leaving you with one important set to take the utmost care of. Proper dental care and regular dental cleaning services for your teeth is vital. Without this, you could be one of the far-too-many that suffer from tooth decay, gum disease, and irreversible dental damage that can lead you down the road to dentures. The major problems that affect your teeth are vastly preventable from home or even work, making your dentist visit one of a great checkup and not bad news. The number one attacker of our precious teeth? Plaque.

What is Plaque?

Plaque, pronounced “plak,” is the sticky deposit that forms on teeth where bacteria rapidly reproduces. Forget to brush this morning? Brush your tongue across your teeth to feel the fuzzy growth of plaque that’s attacking your teeth right now.

Why is Plaque Harmful?

It may be common knowledge that plaque is bad, but why? What happens to the teeth with prolonged plaque build-up? Well, the fuzzy-like film that plaque leaves on teeth, when not brushed, flossed, or given the proper dental care services builds up and reproduces bacteria which causes many problems. The gums can actually pull away from the teeth, which is known as receding. Tooth decay, gum disease, and the obvious smelly breath are a few of the results caused by plaque on the teeth.

How Do You Prevent Plaque?

Plaque needs to be removed on a regular basis with brushing, flossing and of course dental care services. The following are some oral hygiene tips that can help keep your teeth free of plaque.

Oral Hygiene Tips

  • Brush three times a day. Preferably after every time you eat as well.
  • Floss! No matter what you hear about alternatives to flossing, there is no alternative to flossing that can do everything flossing does. None. So floss every day and every night. Again, preferably after every time you eat.
  • Brush your tongue and the inside of your cheeks.
  • The time when plaque builds up the most is the prolonged time after eating. This is why we stress brushing and flossing after you eat.

Plaque is constantly growing, so it needs to be constantly combated. But the good news is that with regular healthy dental cleanings and home care, you will form a great habit that you won’t think is much hard work once you start working on it. Like anything, from exercising to dieting, it’s all about forming the good habit, to overcome the lies in your head that it’s just too much to do. It’s really not, but it all starts with you. Your teeth are counting on you!

Looking for dental care services in San Marcos, TX? Contact Dr. Larry Molenda, D.D.S. in San Marcos, TX to schedule an appointment or to ask for more helpful tips to keep your smile beaming!

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