In the battle against dental issues like cavities and gum disease, maintaining proper oral hygiene is paramount. By adopting simple yet effective practices and being mindful of dietary choices, individuals can safeguard their oral and overall health.

Plaque Attack

So you have probably been told that you should brush your teeth twice a day by your dental professional. For many, this has been drilled into their subconscious. We grew up hearing that we should brush twice a day for two minutes and floss at least once a day. Many, however, don’t know why this is so important. I have had some patients relay to me that they only brush once a day, and others state they brush only maybe once a week!
When you brush and floss your teeth you are removing bacteria on your teeth that form a sticky white film called plaque.^[1] Plaque is a sticky complex biofilm matrix that is able to stick to your teeth, coat your tongue, and cause inflammation to your gums.^[7]

How Often Does Oral Bacteria Multiply?

According to research, if we don’t properly remove plaque biofilm for 24 to 72 hours it can lead to a drop in good bacteria and increase the number of harmful bacteria.^[5] We can have on average 20 billion microbes in our mouth at any given time.^[6] However, those 20 billion microbes can double their numbers every 5 hours.^[6] It only takes 24-72 hours for plaque to harden and calcify into the hard substance calculus (tartar). To keep the bad bacteria to a minimum it is important to exercise good home-care habits daily.^[7] Brushing and cleaning between your teeth help to keep the bacteria levels under control and remove the buildup of plaque.^[7]

How Does Bacteria Growth Affect Our Teeth?

Several variables can help contribute to the growth of the bacteria. Consuming a diet full of carbohydrates or sugary foods and drinks can feed the bacteria. This helps them to increase in numbers spreading throughout your mouth.^[7] Plaque can produce acids that attack your tooth’s enamel and cause tooth decay (cavities).^[1]
If that soft plaque isn’t removed in a timely fashion it begins to harden into what is called calculus (tartar). That hard calculus makes it more difficult to keep your mouth clean and free from attracting more harmful bacteria to its surfaces.^[1] Plaque and calculus buildup can irritate your gums causing gum inflammation which can then contribute to gum disease and compromise your overall health and wellness.^[1] Individuals with gum disease will need to have specialized therapeutic treatment to help control and manage the condition. This can be more intensive and costly.

How to Keep Bacteria To Keep Minimum

• Brush your teeth twice a day with toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth with floss, a water flosser, or an interdental device to remove plaque from between your teeth.(7)
• Clean your tongue by brushing it or using a tongue scraper.(7)
  Eat a healthy diet and limit your consumption of sugary food and drinks as they feed plaque.(1)(7)
• Avoid frequent snacking.(1)
• Replace your toothbrush every three months or sooner.(1)
• Use plaque detecting tablets or rinses that show you areas in your mouth that have plaque on them
• See your dental professionals regularly for professional treatment.(7)

We all live very busy lives, however taking a few minutes out of our day can help us to avoid spending needless hours in the dental chair due to unwanted cavities and gum disease. Prevention is always cheaper than the cure. Preventing the growth of bacteria can contribute to a healthy mouth and a healthy body.

Kari Carter-Cherelus

Kari Carter-Cherelus RDH, DA is a registered Dental Hygienist, writer, consultant, coach, international keynote speaker, with 23 years of experience in dentistry. She is passionate about helping others recover from burnout, improving organization’s work culture, and helping her clients to improve their mindset. She authored the book The Ultimate Guide For Dental Hygienist Burnout, and has written for RDH Graduate, RDH Magazine, and Inside Dental Hygiene.

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1. Mayo Clinic. When and how often should you brush your teeth. Salinas, Thomas. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/brushing-your-teeth/faq-20058193
2. Mayo Clinic.Oral health: A window to your overall health. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475
3. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. Study Shows How Harmful Mouth Bacteria Multiply. (2021, January 7). https://www.genengnews.com/news/microbiome-study-shows-how-harmful-mouth-bacteria-multiply/
4. Microbiome: Does disease start in the mouth, the gut or both? Prodan, Andrei. (2019, March 19) https://elifesciences.org/articles/45931
5. Bissett, Gaby. (2021, March 10) https://dentistry.co.uk/2021/03/10/hours-interrupted-oral-health-complications/
   
6. Oral bacteria: How many? How fast? Landers, Bill. (2009, July https://www.rdhmag.com/infection-control/water-safety/article/16404976/oral-bacteria-how-many-how-fast
7. Mouth Microbes. (2019, May) https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2019/05/mouth-microbes