What Is Plaque, And Why Should I Care?

Plaque is a sticky, build-up of bacteria on the teeth. It usually coats the upper and lower surfaces of the teeth and gums, but can also occur on any part of your mouth. Plaque has been linked to gum disease, cavities, and bad breath. If left untreated, plaque can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

What is Plaque?

Plaque is a build-up of bacteria, calcium and other minerals on the surface of teeth and other hard tissues in the body. It can form as a result of eating foods that are high in calcium or from acidic saliva. Plaque can cause tooth decay, gum disease, and other health problems.

How is Plaque Formed?

plaque is a thick, sticky layer that builds up on the inside of your arteries and other blood vessels.

The buildup of plaque can lead to heart disease, stroke, and even death.

There are a few things you can do to help prevent plaque from forming:

• eat healthy foods that are low in fat and cholesterol
• get regular exercise
• avoid smoking

Causes of Plaque

Plaque is a build-up of cholesterol, fatty acids, and other materials on the lining of your arteries. It can cause atherosclerosis, which is a leading cause of heart disease. Here are some causes of plaque:

-High cholesterol: About 90% of people with plaque have high cholesterol. Cholesterol thickens the artery wall and can promote plaque formation.

-Smoking: Smoking increases the risk of heart disease by raising blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

• genetic factors: Some people are more likely to form plaque than others.

Tips to Prevent and Remove Plaque

If you are like most people, you probably don’t give plaque much thought. After all, it’s just a bunch of proteins and cholesterol that accumulates on our teeth and gums over time. But plaque is actually a major player in the development of dental diseases, and if left unchecked, it can significantly reduce the lifespan of your teeth. In fact, plaque can also lead to bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay. So why should you care?

One reason is that plaque can be difficult to remove. For example, toothbrush bristles only scrape the surface of the plaque, and toothpaste only cleanses it temporarily. Plus, plaque becomes more firmly attached to teeth as it accumulates over time. This means that even if you try to brush and floss regularly, your efforts may be futile if plaque buildup is extensive.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent and remove plaque buildup. Here are some tips:

• Be sure to brush your teeth twice daily and floss once, at least, every day.
• If you can’t fit in a thorough dental check-up, make an appointment to get a professional cleanse or polish to remove plaque build-up from your teeth.
• Keep your mouth clean by drinking and swishing water throughout the day. If you don’t like the taste of water, try flavoring it with lemon slices, fruits such as strawberry or pineapple juice, or even a mint tea bag.
• You may also want to consider regularly using an electric toothbrush that vibrates more vigorously than normal toothbrushes and can reach places other methods cannot.
• You can also try a mouth rinse or brush that contains fluoride, which is beneficial to your teeth and gums.
• ​Foods You Should Not Add To Your Diet You should not eat any food that is spicy or acidic.
• Spicy foods include peppers, paprika, mustard, Tabasco sauce and horseradish.
• Acidic foods include tomato soup, vinegar and citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit. These foods can cause tooth decay because they erode the protective enamel on the teeth.
• Avoid apple juice as well because it contains a large amount of sugar and acids that can lead to cavities if you drink it regularly.

Conclusion

Plaque is a build-up of cholesterol, sugar and other debris in the arteries. It can cause inflammation and promote heart disease, stroke and other serious health problems. If you’re concerned about your blood pressure, cholesterol levels or your overall health, it’s important to address plaque as soon as possible. There are many different ways to do this, and research shows that most people see positive results when they incorporate at least some form of plaque removal into their lifestyle. If you’re curious about how plaque might be affecting your health or want to learn more about the ketogenic diet, I encourage you to read further.