
The American Dental Hygiene Association has designated October as National Dental Hygiene Month. Good dental hygiene is the best weapon against your mouth’s number one enemy: dental plaque.
Plaque, a sticky biofilm that forms on your teeth, is an accumulation of bacteria, other microorganisms, food debris, and other unpleasant components. It can make your teeth feel fuzzy or slimy. And worse, the bacteria in plaque can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
The best way to keep plaque at bay is by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day. But even though you can remove much of the plaque in your mouth with a toothbrush and dental floss, there are nooks and crannies that are hard to access with these basic oral hygiene tools.
Staying on top of dental plaque is an ongoing challenge. Immediately after teeth are cleaned, plaque starts to form again. And the longer plaque stays on teeth, the thicker it grows. Minerals in saliva become incorporated into the biofilm. As plaque takes on more minerals, it becomes calcified. This is when it hardens into calculus, or tartar. At this stage, tooth-brushing and flossing cannot disrupt the hardened layer of buildup, sometimes visible as yellow or brown deposits around the gum line.
This is why it’s important to schedule regular professional dental cleanings. At the dental office, we have special tools to remove tartar and get at those hard-to-reach places that your toothbrush and floss may have missed. If you have questions about dental hygiene, plaque control or another oral health issue, we are happy to talk with you. We are your partners in fighting plaque for a bright, healthy smile!
Read more about the topic in the Dear Doctor magazine article “Plaque Disclosing Agents.”
Comments:
Find Us
Curt P. Posey, DDS, INC.
Fresno, CA 93720

Request Appointment
Our office has flexible hours to fit your busy schedule
Patient Eductation

Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
Tags
- mouthguard (3)
- oral health (26)
- celebrity smiles (82)
- dental injuries (4)
- oral hygiene (31)
- orthodontics (10)
- tads (2)
- General Dentistry (1)
- pediatric care (2)
- pregnancy (3)
- teeth whitening (3)
- cosmetic dentistry (14)
- dental implants (22)
- gum recession (2)
- periodontal disease (3)
- gum disease (16)
- Sedation Dentist (1)
- Fresno (2)
- braces (8)
- aging (1)
- Reviews (1)
- oral surgery (2)
- oral cancer (3)
- orthodontic treatment (18)
- pediatric dentistry (19)
- sedation dentistry (5)
- jaw surgery (1)
- financing (1)
- tooth loss (2)
- retainers (4)
- Root Canal Treatment (5)
- gap (1)
- dental emergency (2)
- dental injury (7)
- stress (1)
- dental care (3)
- tooth grinding (1)
- dental health (1)
- dental implant (4)
- veneers (6)
- cracked tooth (1)
- Removable Dentures (1)
- crowns (4)
- dental anxiety (2)
- bonding (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- fillings (2)
- Toothbrush (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- thumb sucking (2)
- chipped teeth (1)
- tooth pain (3)
- root canal (6)
- bad breath (2)
- wisdom teeth (3)
- anchorage devices (1)
- tooth decay (6)
- dental crowns (2)
- restorative dentistry (6)
- tooth wear (1)
- anesthesia (1)
- mouthguards (2)
- nutrition (3)
- Root Canals (2)
- mouth guard (1)
- porcelain veneers (1)
- laser dentistry (2)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- dental bonding (1)
- tmj disorders (1)
- chipped tooth (3)
- snoring (3)
- sleep apnea (3)
- missing teeth (2)
- teeth grinding (1)
- bonded retainer (2)
- bone grafting (1)
- tooth extraction (1)
- plaque (1)
- root resorption (1)
- jaw pain (1)
- tmj (1)
- toothache (1)
- partial denture (2)
- bridge (1)
- cancer treatment (1)
- professional teeth cleanings (1)
- bone loss (1)
- fluoride (2)
- dentures (2)
- cleft lip (2)
- cleft palate (2)
- retainer (2)
- Filling (1)
- smile makeover (2)
- crown lengthening (2)
- local anesthesia (1)
- space maintainer (1)
- teething (1)
- Cosmetic Dentistry Procedure (1)
- dental exam (1)
- sealants (3)
- Implants (1)
- chewing tobacco (1)
- sugar (1)
- mouth sore (1)
- lingual braces (1)
- Cosmetic Dentistry Treatment (1)