{"id":577,"date":"2025-11-19T13:18:55","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T13:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zumbrofamilydental.com\/blog\/?p=577"},"modified":"2025-11-19T13:18:56","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T13:18:56","slug":"what-is-plaque-and-how-can-i-remove-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zumbrofamilydental.com\/blog\/what-is-plaque-and-how-can-i-remove-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Plaque and How Can I Remove it?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you\u2019ve ever been to the dentist or even watched a toothpaste commercial, you\u2019ve probably heard the word \u201cplaque\u201d before. But what is it, and how can you prevent it from damaging your smile? Here\u2019s a closer look at this sticky substance, and how not removing it in time can cause a variety of dangerous oral health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Dental Plaque?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Plaque is a sticky clear or whitish substance that coats your teeth after eating and drinking food throughout the day. You know that weird \u201cfuzzy\u201d sensation you can feel with your tongue when you run it over them after eating? That\u2019s plaque. So, how did it get there? Well, it\u2019s made of food particles, saliva, and bacteria that accumulate following meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can I Get Rid of Plaque?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The great news is that you can easily remove plaque by brushing twice a day and flossing daily. This will help eliminate that gross feeling and prevent the nasty film from hardening and causing a variety of oral health problems including cavities and gum disease. When it reaches this stage, it\u2019s known as tartar. Unlike plaque, tartar can only be removed by a dental professional with special tools. This is what your dental hygienist is clearing off your teeth during your dental cleaning<\/a>. It can accumulate both above and below the gumline, inside the gingival pockets. When this happens, you may even need a deep cleaning known as scaling and root planing.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can I Prevent Plaque from Forming?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s normal for some amounts of plaque to accumulate throughout the day, you can help prevent it from appearing by adapting the following healthy habits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n