Causes and Treatment of Dental Plaque

Dental plaque is a sticky biofilm which is developed in the teeth as a result of existence of bacteria in the mouth. And as you may know, it happens to everyone. In this scenario, how you deal with the dental plaque determines how healthy your teeth and gums are. If this plaque is left untreated, it can lead to the development of tartar which can cause cavities and gum disease.

Causes of dental plaque

Your mouth is filled with various species of bacteria. Some are harmful while some are not. It is completely normal for the harmful bacteria to gather on the surface of the teeth and around the gum line. The real problem occurs when these bacteria get their sustenance in the form of sugar that you eat. As a result, a biofilm is formed. This biofilm is based on the bacteria, sugar or carbohydrates, and the resultant acid which is produced by the bacteria after they feed on the sugar.

Why is it important to care about it?

If the plaque is left to buildup and turn into tartar, it can result in cavities and/or gum disease. The acid produced by the bacteria can lead to formation of cavities as this acid dissolves tooth enamel. The decay formed by the acid runs through the layers to reach internal chamber of the tooth. This internal chamber contains living nerves and vessels. This living part is known as tooth pulp. Once the pulp is infected, the infection can cause abscess in the root area. The only way to treat the problem at this stage is the root canal treatment which means you will need to say goodbye to the tooth pulp along with the infected tissues.

Not brushing your teeth can lead to the formation of tartar on your teeth. And this formation doesn’t take very long. Normally, it takes a day for the plaque buildup to turn into tartar if you forget to brush your teeth. Plaque is usually colorless while tartar can turn your teeth yellow or brown. Moreover, tartar can irritate your gums to cause inflammation. This inflammation can cause gingivitis which is the first stage of gum disease. At this stage, you will not find simple brushing and flossing quite helpful. Your dentist, however, will be able to remove this plaque and tartar to reverse the process of inflammation.

Treating dental plaque

You may not be able to prevent the formation of plaque but you can actually be proactive about it by removing it on regular basis. For this purpose, you will have to make sure that you brush and floss your teeth regularly on daily basis. Make sure that you are using nice fluoride toothpaste to keep your tooth enamel strong. Moreover, you will need to make sure there is enough saliva flow in your mouth. Dry mouth can let the plaque to be built up and turned into tartar pretty quickly. For this purpose, you can chew sugar free gums.

Regular dental visits are very important if you are worried about the formation of plaque on your teeth. These are basically the preemptive dental visits which let you stay away from the major oral health issues.

How to Overcome Dental anxiety

Dental fear is totally normal. In fact, most people have it, and it often is a controlling factor on whether or not they see the dentist. The dentist is a scary place. So many foreign tools, objects, a strange person probing into your mouth. Here is even that worry about loss of control. But everyone needs to, since it can often tell you whether or not you need a different type of treatment or something. If you’re worried about the state of your mouth, but are afraid to go to the dentist, there are a few ways to overcome dental anxiety. This article will discuss how you can, and the best ways to do so.

The first thing you got to do, is to be totally honest about it. Tell the dentist about your fears immediately. Be upfront with it from the moment you walk into there. Don’t try to be a brave person when it’s obvious that you’re scared. This will help with the initial meeting of the dental needs to make you the most comfortable. Having a comfortable experience can make going to the dentist a whole lot easier.

You should also try to go to the dentist with a person that you trust. If you have a friend or family member that you’re close to, that knows about your fear, and doesn’t have them either, have them come with you. sometimes the dentist will even let them sit with you during the procedure. This is a great way to help you really feel at ease, and it can make everything much better.

You can establish a signal with the dentist as well. When a dentist has a probe or something in your mouth, chances are, you’re not going to be able to talk with them. Simple as that. However, having a signal, such as putting your left hand up, will allow the dentist to know that you’re not comfy with a situation, and that you need a minute to stop. This is a great way to help you catch your breath, and it can significantly reduce the instance of a panic attack as well. It can do a whole lot for you.

Sometimes, being distracted is another great tool. If you have headphones, along with some calming music, bring it in. Typically, the dentist allows that, and you can tell them that you have it. You can then sit down, listen, and be more focused. While the dentist does like to play music, you’ll be able to have that direct contact right then and there, which can make a world of a difference.

Next, try to relax with various relaxation techniques. Breathe in through your nose, and then out through your mouth after holding it for a minute. This is a great way to help calm yourself down, and it can really help you if you begin to feel anxious. Sometimes, tensing and relaxing various muscle groups in tandem with this can help you to feel more relaxed at the dentist.

Finally, go to a dentist that understands this. If your dentist is totally rude about you feeling this way, don’t go to them. Most dentists are understanding, and sometimes they even give you something to help with this, such as nitrous. You can always ask for this too, and sometimes they give it to you right away. But if you’re nervous, they won’t be able to do their job, and if they berate you for being nervous, it can only lead to further issues.

The dentist is a hard place to go to at times, but if you go to this with the idea that you’re not going to be hurt or anything, it can make the whole thing much easier on you. do this, with that intent in mind, and it can create a miraculous difference in the future appointments that you have. It’s better to face your fears than to avoid them, since avoiding will lead you down the path of infections and the like, but being able to have the dentist chandler az there to understand and help you will make dental anxiety much easier to face now and forever.