Why Is Dental Home Care So Important?
Brushing and flossing your teeth removes plaque from your teeth and gums. Doing this daily is
essential because plaque builds up so quickly. If you don’t remove plaque, it will eventually
calcify, turning into tartar, which is difficult to remove and can lead to gum disease.
Removing plaque is vital to oral health because it contains bacteria. These bacteria feed off the
sugars we eat and release acids. The acids attach tooth enamel, weakening it until you develop a
cavity. Left untreated, the decay can reach the nerve and cause a painful infection.
The acids in plaque can also irritate your delicate gum tissue. Eventually, the gum tissue will
recede from the teeth to escape the tartar. As the gum recedes, so does the bone surrounding the
teeth. Soon, this causes loose teeth and eventual tooth loss.
Regular brushing and flossing is the best way to protect yourself from painful infections and tooth
loss.