One of the biggest risks to an individual’s smile consists of plaque buildup. Plaque is a thin layer of debris that rests on your teeth and slowly wears down your tooth enamel. Because they help protect the inner linings of a tooth, it can easily be damaged by acids and other substances in your mouth. To ensure that your teeth can continue to function for decades to come, you will need to minimize the amount of plaque in your mouth and constantly keep your mouth free of bacteria and other food particles.
If you’re struggling with plaque and debris on your teeth and gums, it is often linked to poor oral hygiene factors. To prevent the damage that plaque can do to your mouth, make sure that you are routinely rinsing it away. If it is left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss. Furthermore, plaque is a known risk factor of gum disease. Gum disease occurs with infections of your gums which can cause gum destabilization and eventually tooth loss.
Another common risk factor associated with plaque buildup is cavities. A cavity occurs when a hole in tooth enamel forms. As plaque buildup converts sugars and other substances in your mouth into harmful acids that chew through your tooth enamel, the risk for cavities continues to arise.
To make matters worse, plaque eventually hardens into tartar, which cannot be easily washed away without the help of a dentist. If you have any risks for tartar or need to have further treatments done, you’ll need to visit your dentist to have it safely removed.
No matter the plaque prevention and care you are in need of, Dr. Nandhini Bogavelli and our team at Pristine Smiles are here to help you in every way we can. If you would like to set up treatments for eliminating plaque, come see us at our dental office in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, please call us at 717-790-2184 to speak with a member of our team.