What you need to know about plaque

08 Sep What you need to know about plaque

Tooth decay starts with plaque

The two main enemies of dental health are tooth decay and periodontal disease. Both have the same basic cause: the buildup of plaque on exposed surfaces of the teeth.

Hence, the main purpose of preventative dental care is the control of plaque, which must be kept from adhering to your teeth for more than 24 hours. To accomplish this goal, you should remove plaque from your teeth twice a day, every day. Semiannual cleaning by your dentist isn’t enough—you’ll have to do the job yourself, regularly and thoroughly.

Want to learn the proper techniques? Read more about how to brush and how to floss.

Tooth decay can spread to the roots if not treated