Your Role in Achieving Dental Health and Wellness As our patient, you have two primary responsibilities for achieving health and wellness. The first is to be willing to replace old ideas and habits with new ones. Old habits and ideas are difficult to overcome and seem to have a life of their own. We have put a system in place to educate and inform you so that successful habit changes can take place. Your second responsibility is to learn proper hygiene along with good eating habits. Because the majority of dental problems are caused by bacterial waste, you need to understand the role of plaque and how you can control it.

What is Plaque? Plaque is a white, viscous film composed primarily of bacteria, calcium ions, dead cells from the gums, and a sticky substance from the saliva. Plaque is the primary cause of decay and gum disease. It is destructive because it accumulates along the gum line and between the teeth.

Once removed, plaque begins to re-form in about twenty minutes. Once formed, it creates a barrier along the tooth and gum which allows the harmful by-products of bacterial activity to create tooth decay and gum irritation.  (The bacteria in the plaque use sugar and other energy sources to produce an acidic substance that breaks down tooth structure and injures the gum tissue.)  The barrier formed by the plaque complex allows these bacterial by-products to become concentrated and destructive. Because it takes about twenty-four hours for this process to take place, the goal of good brushing and flossing is to break up all the plaque in your mouth at least once a day. Twice a day is better! It's easy to see why getting your teeth cleaned every six months won't solve most dental disease. Only daily plaque removal is effective in preventing decay and gum disease.

Calculus or Tartar
Calculus is in simple terms, calcified plaque. If plaque is left undisturbed for four to five days, the calcium ions present in saliva will attach to the tooth surface. After attaching, the calcium becomes thick and hard and can build up rapidly to form the mass we commonly call calculus or tartar. Although calculus has not been implicated in periodontal problems, it is a physical irritant and serves as a matrix which holds bacteria and their harmful by-products. Calculus cannot be removed by brushing; although, its formation can be minimized by thorough daily plaque removal. When your teeth are cleaned, the hygienist removes calculus with specialized dental tools.

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