Have you ever experienced that icky feeling on your teeth when you haven’t brushed in a while and they start to feel a little fuzzy, almost like there’s an extra layer of something on them? Chances are we’ve all dealt with this at some point or another in our lives. That feeling is your mouth telling you that there is plaque sitting on your teeth.
What Is Plaque?
Plaque is a thin, hard coating that forms on teeth, caused by bacteria in your mouth that consume sugars and produce waste products. While plaque can be managed with nothing more than some routine tooth brushing and flossing, it can turn into tartar when left untreated. Unfortunately, the average person cannot get rid of tartar themselves. That’s why it’s important to take plaque seriously so it doesn’t cause bigger problems down the line.
What You Can Do
No one wants plaque. By brushing our teeth every day, we are actively fighting plaque. But there will be some days when you get home too late, or you stay up too late, and you can feel that fuzziness on your teeth. Keep these tips in mind to keep that fuzzy feeling at bay:
- You’ve heard it time and again: brush and floss your teeth! It is the single easiest way to improve your dental health.
- Avoid eating sticky foods, because they will stay on your teeth longer and might not be dislodged by brushing.
- If you’re not able to brush your teeth for a while, trying chewing sugar-free gum. This will help protect your teeth while food particles something else to stick to.
- Keep your mouth hydrated. Drink water throughout the day and periodically rinse out your mouth with water to flush out harmful particles.
Have more questions about your dental health?
