What is Plaque?

Most people have heard of the word “plaque,” and know it’s not something you want on your teeth. Yet, they don’t know what exactly plaque is or how it contributes to dental decay.

Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that live on the surface of your teeth and along the gumline. It accumulates from normal daily activities such as eating and drinking, especially if you’ve been consuming a lot of sugars and starches.

Ever had that fuzzy feeling on your teeth that goes away after you give them a good brush? Yep, that’s plaque.

Plaque is what contributes to dental decay, as bacteria like to consume the sugars in your mouth and excrete acids that wear away at your tooth enamel.

When you don’t regularly brush and floss away plaque, it forms tartar. Tartar is the calcified substance on your teeth that only a professional cleaning can remove. We are here to help, so please contact our office at 818-241-3155 to schedule your next cleaning appointment.

To regularly remove plaque:

1. Brush thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day.
2. Floss at least once a day to remove plaque that your brush can’t reach.
3. Visit us for your regular dental cleanings.

Author

Tereza Hambarchian, DDS Dr. Tereza Hambarchian is a Glendale, CA Dentist providing both general and cosmetic dentistry services to the residents of Los Angeles. Her specialties include crowns, bridges, veneers, dental implants, teeth cleaning & whitening, and Invisalign®.