Some of the problems that our Croydon dentists spend most of their time dealing with are also the ones which people often know the least about.
Most patients have heard of plaque. Many have heard of tartar, or calculus as it is sometimes called. Yet when we ask what they actually are, the answers vary quite a bit. Some people think they are the same thing. Others assume tartar is simply a more severe form of plaque. A surprising number believe they only affect people who do not look after their teeth properly.
Plaque is something every single one of us develops. It doesn't matter whether you are eighteen or eighty, whether you brush twice a day or have only just started taking your oral health seriously. Plaque forms naturally in the mouth and begins building up again not long after you have cleaned your teeth.
If you've ever run your tongue across your teeth at the end of a long day and noticed they don't feel quite as smooth as they did that morning, you've probably detected plaque without realising it. On its own, plaque is not particularly dramatic. It is a soft, sticky film containing bacteria, saliva and tiny food particles. The problem is what happens when it stays in place.
The bacteria within plaque love sugars. Every time we eat or drink something sugary, they get to work. As they do, they produce acids. Those acids can gradually affect the outer surface of the teeth and increase the likelihood of decay developing over time. This isn't something that happens overnight. Most dental problems don't. Instead, it tends to be a slow process that continues quietly in the background, often without causing any obvious symptoms at first.
The same plaque can also settle around the edge of the gums. Here it can begin to irritate the surrounding tissues.
Many people tell us that their gums bleed "a little bit sometimes". Often they have noticed it for years and have simply accepted it as normal. In truth, healthy gums do not usually bleed when you brush them. When plaque sits around the gum line, the body reacts to the bacteria. The gums can become inflamed and slightly swollen. This early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis.
The good news is that gingivitis can often be improved significantly, and in many cases reversed, provided action is taken early enough. Unfortunately, because it is not usually painful, people tend to ignore it.
If plaque is left on the teeth for long enough, it begins to harden. Minerals that occur naturally in saliva gradually turn the soft deposit into something much more stubborn. Once this happens, it becomes tartar. You may hear your dentist or hygienist refer to it as calculus, but they are talking about the same thing.
Unlike plaque, tartar cannot simply be brushed away at home. No matter how enthusiastic you are with your toothbrush, once it has hardened it generally needs professional removal.
Some people are more prone to tartar than others with one patient going years with very little accumulation while another develops noticeable deposits despite making a genuine effort to keep their teeth clean. Saliva composition appears to play a role, which means it is not always entirely down to brushing habits.
Patients often notice tartar when their teeth begin to feel rough. A common example is behind the lower front teeth. You might run your tongue across the area and feel a ridge or uneven patch that wasn't there before. Sometimes it appears slightly yellow and occasionally it picks up staining from tea, coffee or smoking and becomes more obvious.
The trouble with tartar is that it creates the perfect surface for even more plaque to collect. Imagine trying to keep a polished kitchen worktop clean compared with a rough brick wall. One is naturally easier to wipe down than the other. Teeth act very similarly when it comes to tartar build up.
As tartar accumulates, keeping the area clean becomes more difficult, which can increase irritation and make gum problems more likely. Over time, if gum disease is allowed to progress, it can start affecting the structures that support the teeth. This stage is known as periodontitis.
The frustrating thing about periodontitis is that it often develops quietly. Many patients assume they would know if something serious was wrong, but gum disease doesn't always work like that. Sometimes the changes occur so gradually that they are only noticed during a dental examination. This is one of the reasons why routine check-ups at the Smile Dental Practice Croydon are important, even if everything feels fine.
The encouraging part of all this is that plaque and tartar are among the most manageable dental problems we encounter. Nobody is expected to have a perfect mouth. In fact, perfection isn't really the goal. What matters is consistency. People who maintain good brushing habits, clean between their teeth regularly and attend appointments when recommended tend to stay ahead of problems rather than constantly reacting to them.
We often find that relatively small adjustments make a noticeable difference. A better brushing technique, the addition of flossing or more regular hygiene visits can sometimes improve gum health dramatically within a matter of weeks.
Plaque and tartar may not be particularly exciting subjects, but they are often at the heart of many of the dental problems we treat every day. Understanding what they are, how they form and why they matter can go a long way towards helping you keep your teeth and gums healthy for years to come.
If you have any concerns about anything you might have read in today’s blog and would like to book yourself in for a check up for further investigation, our dentists will be happy to help. You can contact the Smile Dental Practice in Croydon by calling us on 020 8649 7911.
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