{"id":1010,"date":"2019-05-29T19:57:40","date_gmt":"2019-05-29T19:57:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/plaque-tartar-and-your-teeth\/"},"modified":"2019-05-29T19:57:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-29T19:57:40","slug":"plaque-tartar-and-your-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/plaque-tartar-and-your-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Plaque, Tartar, And Your Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

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PLAQUE AND TARTAR<\/b> are two words that you probably hear a lot when you come in for a dental cleaning. You might already know that they cause tooth decay and gum disease, but do you know what they are? Let\u2019s take a closer look at these two substances that are a constant threat to our oral health.<\/p>\n

Stage 1: Plaque<\/h3>\n

Dental plaque<\/a> is a soft, sticky, colorless biofilm composed of bacteria, food particles, and saliva. It builds up on and between our teeth and beneath our gums every day.<\/strong> If you\u2019ve ever forgotten to brush in the morning or at night, you\u2019ve probably felt that unpleasant texture with your tongue.<\/p>\n

Plaque contains millions of bacteria, and this bacteria digests leftover sugars and starches from the food we eat, then excretes acid onto our teeth. Because plaque is soft, it can be removed with simple brushing and flossing,<\/strong> but we have to be thorough and diligent to get as much of it as possible.<\/p>\n

Stage 2: Tartar<\/h3>\n

The reason it\u2019s so important to scrub away the plaque is that when plaque is allowed to sit on the teeth too long, it becomes tartar. Tartar is a hard, yellow or brown substance that bonds to tooth enamel<\/strong> and can only be removed at a professional cleaning appointment.<\/p>\n

How<\/a> does this transformation happen? When the acid excreted by oral bacteria comes into contact with minerals in our saliva, it causes a chemical reaction that hardens the plaque into tartar. The risk of tartar buildup is higher for people with braces, dry mouth, crowded teeth, or a smoking habit, and it also increases with age.<\/p>\n