Periodontology

When starches and sugars in food interact with bacteria normally found in your mouth, plaque starts to form on your teeth. It can be removed if you brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day, but anyway, plaque re-forms quickly.

If plaque stays on your teeth, it can harden under your gumline into tartar (calculus). Tartar, which is filled with bacteria, is more difficult to remove. Remember that the longer plaque and tartar remain on your teeth, the more damage they can do. Tartar can’t be removed by brushing and flossing. Therefore, you are going to need a professional dental cleaning to remove it.

Plaque can cause gingivitis, which is the mildest form of gum disease. Gingivitis is irritation and inflammation of the part of your gum tissue around the base of your teeth (gingiva) and can only be reversed with professional treatment as well as good home oral care.

Ongoing gum inflammation can cause periodontitis. It will cause pockets to develop between your gums and teeth that fill with plaque, tartar and bacteria. Later, these pockets become deeper, filling with even more bacteria. If left untreated, these deep infections cause a loss of tissue and bone. Ultimately you may lose one or more teeth. It is also worth noting that ongoing chronic inflammation can put a strain on your immune system.