Plaque and Tartar

Plaque is a sticky, yellow film or build-up that forms on your teeth. Plaque can be removed from your tooth surface by brushing and flossing. However, if plaque is left on your teeth to harden over time it becomes tartar, or calculus, and can only be removed with scaling instruments by a dental hygienist. Plaque makes this transformation to tartar within as little as 24 hours.

Gum Disease

Gum disease, or gingivitis, results in swelling, bleeding and soreness of the soft tissues around your teeth. This condition is typically caused by bacteria in plaque. Plaque bacteria produce toxins that can lead to inflammation of the gums which results in gingivitis. This stage of gum disease is reversible, upon removal of the plaque and tartar by brushing, flossing and regular debridement by our dental hygienists. This is why tooth brushing at morning and night, and flossing once a day, is critical to the health of your gums and teeth.

When this plaque, tartar and bacteria are left untreated they can build up and infect your gums and the bone that supports your teeth leading to a more severe form of gum disease called periodontitis. Periodontitis can result in the loss of bone and teeth. Bone loss can be treated with bone grafting treatment and tooth loss can be treated with dental implants. Visit Our Services page to get additional information on Bone Grafting and Dental Implant procedures.

Importance of Oral hygiene and Implant Longevity

Ideally, we all want to hold onto our teeth for a lifetime. In the unfortunate event that a tooth must be removed, dental implants are a wonderful solution for tooth loss often lasting a lifetime themselves. But they still must be cared for in much the same way as a tooth. Regular tooth brushing, flossing and the use of a Waterpik are daily home care requirements. Semi-annual professional debridement of plaque and tartar by a dental hygienist is also essential to the longevity of the implant. The hygienist will take meticulous measurements of the bone around the implant for regular monitoring of the implant’s stability.

Importance of Oral hygiene in Invisalign and Orthodontics

Orthodontic treatment involving bands and wires is often difficult to keep plaque-free even by patients with the most devoted home care routines. Invisalign orthodontic aligner treatment can also help trap plaque-forming bacteria. Regular visits every 6 months, or more often in some cases, is highly recommended to maintain the health of the teeth’s most vital support system, your gums and bone. Red, puffy and bleeding gums are warning signs that your gums need some extra TLC from your caring dental hygienist.