Dentist in Huntersville
If you’re like the majority of Americans who brush their teeth after each meal, have you ever truly wondered what you’re trying to accomplish by doing this task two to three times a day? Yes, you’re trying to get rid of dirt and other harmful microorganisms which accumulate inside your mouth especially after a meal. However, what kind of form do these bacterial accumulations take?
Dirt and bacteria in plaque
When you brush your teeth, you’re actually trying to get rid of plaque. It is in this soft matrix that the bacteria, their acidic metabolites and other pathogenic microorganism all reside in. Right after a meal, you may feel that the surfaces of your teeth are slightly sticky and when you run your fingers on them or use a toothpick, you find this white-colored substance. That is the thing you remove from your teeth whenever you brush. Plaque can easily be removed by simple tooth brushing. However, plaque isn’t the only thing which you should worry about.
Plaque into tartar
When you allow plaque to settle for more than 72 hours, maybe because you didn’t brush your teeth properly, the plaque turns very hard and morphs into tartar. This mineralized substance is very tough and could not be removed by simple brushing your teeth. You need to go to Tate C. Langdon in Huntersville, NC in order to have the tartar scaled from the surfaces of your teeth. Then you undergo another procedure, called planing, where the surfaces of your teeth are polished in order to make it more difficult for plaque, and consequently tartar, to adhere.
The harms of plaque and tartar
What makes plaque and tartar so special that you need to remove them two to three times each day? First off, plaque is brimming with bacteria which could get into your gums and cause an infection. Gingivitis is the early sign of gum disease and is characterized by red, swollen gums. On the other hand, tartar is toxic to gums and can cause an inflammatory reaction. This reaction causes the receding of your gum line and the formation of pockets below your teeth wherein the dental roots will be peeking from. If not treated promptly, gum disease can culminate with periodontitis which endangers the deeper gum and bone tissues, and is the leading cause of teeth loss. Fortunately, brushing after every meal and before you go to bed keeps any of those things from happening.
Even if you are diligent about brushing and flossing, your best choice for healthy teeth is twice yearly visits to Tate C. Langdon in Huntersville, NC. Make an appointment today.
—–
