Will Hardened Plaque Go Away
Plaque forms nearly constantly on the teeth throughout the day as new foods and drinks are introduced into the mouth. Brushing and flossing regularly helps manage the amount of plaque in the mouth, but it’s important to brush routinely for optimal plaque removal, as plaque becomes more and more difficult to remove as it hardens on the teeth. In most cases, plaque hardens as quickly as 48 hours after it’s formed, and it only takes a few days for calcified plaque to harden to the point that it’s impossible to remove without a professional dental cleaning. Once plaque has calcified to this extent, it becomes tartar, and it can only be removed by scraping it away with a sharp, specialized tool that only professionals are trained to safely use. While some toothpastes claim that they have tartar-controlling properties, they actually help remove plaque before it calcifies into tartar; truly, the only way to remove tartar is in professional hands.
Although fully hardened plaque won’t go away without dental intervention, it’s possible to manage plaque as it builds up, before it hardens, and it’s also possible to prevent plaque buildup from happening at all. If you notice that your teeth feel fuzzy when you run your tongue across them, you’re noticing plaque. Brushing your teeth is the best first step in these instances, and it’s the best way to prevent that feeling from happening in the first place. The antioxidants in green tea and red wine have been reported to help prevent plaque buildup, and studies have shown that green tea is particularly effective at preventing tooth loss due to plaque buildup. Olive oil is also beneficial to the teeth and can help protect them from plaque accumulation. Certain populations are more prone to plaque buildup, so make sure to talk to your dentist about your complete medical history, dietary habits, and habits like alcohol use and smoking, especially if you notice that you seem especially prone to plaque deposits.
Oral hygiene is a crucial factor in the management of plaque and tartar, but it isn’t the only factor. Dietary changes can also help reduce plaque formation and the destruction it can cause. Just as people do, plaque requires fuel; while the best fuel for people is a balanced diet that includes lean protein, whole grains, and lots of healthy fruits and vegetables, the best fuel for plaque is sugar. Plaque thrives on diets that are high in refined carbohydrates like white bread and pasta, and it’s especially happy with diets that include candy and other sweets. While these foods are particularly problematic when it comes to plaque formation, the truth is that many foods contain carbohydrates, and even complex, healthy carbohydrates feed the bacteria in plaque. Some plaque formation is inevitable, but a daily routine of proper brushing and flossing can help limit the amount of plaque that accumulates on the teeth and prevent hardened plaque deposits from developing in the first place.
More than three-quarters of U.S. adults have some form of gum disease, which is most commonly caused by plaque accumulation and calcification. When left untreated, gum disease can ravage the oral cavity, destroying all the oral tissues and causing the teeth to fall out and the jawbone to deteriorate. Because hardened plaque won’t go away on its own, and because it’s unsafe, if it’s possible at all, to remove hardened plaque on your own, make sure to complement your own home hygiene practices with regular dental checkups and cleanings if you want to keep your teeth as clean as they can possibly be.