What is that coating on my teeth?

More than likely, there’s been at least one morning where you wake up and your teeth just feel… fuzzy. Of course, what do you do? You run straight to the bathroom to scrub that nasty coating off and regain your sanity. But what is that disgusting feeling from? Is it plaque or tartar, and what’s the difference? And how do those things affect oral health?

Does that nasty feeling mean that you didn’t brush your teeth well enough the night before? Should you be concerned? These questions are important to answer. With them, you can be sure you’re treating your smile to the best possible dental care, doing your part to keep them around throughout your lifetime.

What is plaque?

First off, what exactly is plaque? Plaque is a soft, sticky film made of bacteria that forms on the surface of the teeth every single day. Sometimes it’s yellow in color, other times it’s white. Yes, this is the culprit to that fuzzy feeling on your teeth when you wake up, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you failed at your oral hygiene routine the night before. It develops naturally over time, and food debris and sugars are their main food source.

The natural bacteria in our mouth mix with the food particles and sugars, creating acids and causing that sticky substance in record time. This acid is what begins to break down the enamel. The enamel is the hard coating on the outside of your teeth. It doesn’t regenerate, so it’s important to take care of it to prevent tooth decay! 

Plaque doesn’t take very long to get to work, so it’s imperative that you brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily to disrupt the plaque and help prevent cavities. If any of it gets left behind, it can harden and continue on with its mission.

What is tartar?

As you might have guessed from the previous paragraph, tartar is what forms when plaque is left behind. Over time, and with the help of the minerals in our saliva, the plaque hardens over the surface of the tooth, sort of like a shell. Tartar absorbs stains and can cause the teeth to look discolored. It can also collect below the gumline and contribute to the development of gum disease (more on that shortly). The most effective way to get rid of stubborn tartar is by getting a professional dental cleaning. Picking it off by yourself could easily result in permanent damage and gum tissue injury.

Why It Matters

Of course, cavities are a huge problem that comes from plaque and tartar buildup once the bacteria is able to eat through the enamel. We fill cavities all the time for patients here in our office. However, cavities aren’t the only potential problems. When left to its own devices, plaque also irritates the gums. 

This is the first stage of gum disease called gingivitis. The gums get red, swollen, and irritated in general. Then as time progresses and that plaque turns into tartar, the gums begin to separate and recede from the tooth root. At this point, you’re in full-blown gum disease (periodontitis). When this happens, professional deep cleaning is needed to remove all the bacteria and get everything back on track. If gum disease is left alone, it can eventually lead to severe problems such as tooth loss. When this happens, restorative dentistry options such as bridges or implants are good solutions.

Tips for Prevention

If plaque forms just from us eating and drinking, how are we supposed to keep it at bay? Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time and flossing at least once a day is the most effective way to keep your teeth healthy and tartar-free. Inevitably, there are areas of our mouths that are harder to reach than others.

That’s why even those with excellent home oral hygiene shouldn’t skip getting regular professional dental cleanings. Your dental hygienist is able to get to all of those areas with ease, painlessly removing any stubborn plaque or tartar with specialized instruments and getting your teeth back to square one.

Consistency is the trick.

The best possible way to keep your teeth in check is to maintain a consistent oral hygiene routine, complemented by regular, professional dental cleanings. These habits will keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime!

Are you ready to get your teeth in the best shape possible? Then it’s time to hop online and request an appointment. The process is easy, and it will result in a clean, healthy smile.