What is Plaque?

When plaque isn’t regularly removed, it can accumulate minerals from your saliva and harden into an off-white or yellow substance called tartar.

Tartar builds up along your gumline on the fronts and backs of your teeth. Although an attentive flossing may dislodge some tartar buildup, you’ll probably need to visit a dentist to rid yourself of all of it.

What causes plaque?

Your mouth is a thriving ecosystem. Bacteria and other organisms come in when you eat, drink, and breathe. Most of the time, a delicate balance is maintained in your oral ecosystem, but problems can arise when certain strains of bacteria become overabundant.

When you eat carbs and sugary foods and drinks, bacteria feed on the sugars, producing acids in the process. Those acids can cause problems like cavities, gingivitis, and other forms of tooth decay.

Tooth decay from plaque can even happen under your gums where you can’t see it, eating away at the support for your teeth.

How is plaque diagnosed?

Most of the time, plaque is colorless or pale yellow. A dentist can spot plaque on your teeth using a small mirror during an oral examination.

What’s the treatment for plaque?

You can remove plaque by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Some dentists recommend electric toothbrushes because they are believed to be more effective at removing plaque.

A 2019 review of studies showed that using a toothpaste containing baking soda is a good way to get rid of plaque.

Plaque that has hardened into tartar will have to be removed by a dental professional. Your dentist or oral hygienist can remove it when you have a regular dental checkup and cleaning. Because tartar can build up in hard-to-reach places, it’s really important to visit a dentist twice a year to keep it under control.

How to prevent plaque

• To prevent plaque buildup, brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft, rounded-tip bristled toothbrush. Pay particular attention to the space where the gums and teeth meet. Use a fluoride-containing toothpaste.
• Floss between teeth at least once a day to remove food particles and bacteria.
• Use an antibacterial mouth rinse to reduce bacteria that cause plaque and gum disease.
• See your dentist or oral hygienist every 6 months for a check-up and teeth cleaning.
• Ask your dentist if a dental sealant is appropriate for you. Dental sealants are a thin, plastic coating that are painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth to protect them from cavities and decay.
• Eat a balanced diet and limit the number of between-meal snacks. If you need a snack, choose nutritious foods such as plain yogurt, cheese, fruit, or raw vegetables. Vegetables, such as celery, help remove food and help saliva neutralize plaque-causing acids.

Swish!

To get at the bacteria between your teeth, consider a mouth rinse product when you rinse and floss. In a 2016 review, of the medical literature, researchers concluded that when mouth rinses are used along with brushing and flossing, there’s a significant reduction in plaque and gingivitis.

Mouth rinses have lots of different active ingredients: Chlorhexidine (CHX), probiotic, herbal, and essential oil mouth rinses have all been studied.

CHX is available by prescription only. While it is effective for reducing plaque buildup and overall gum health, it can stain teeth, increase tartar buildup, and change the way food tastes to you.

If you want a rinse that won’t cause staining or other side effects, you might consider a probiotic or herbal rinse. A 2016 study showed both types significantly improve plaque levels without the staining that can occur with a CHX rinse.

Some studies have also found that rinse products containing essential oils result in less plaque buildup than brushing and flossing alone. Listerine Cool Mint, for example, contains small amounts of menthol, thyme, wintergreen, and eucalyptus oils, and a 2017 review of studies found it reduces both plaque and gingivitis.