Plaque Facts from a Dental Hygienist

We don’t like bacteria on our hands, so why would we want it to linger in our mouths? Keeping your teeth clean ultimately keeps your body healthier. Here are some plaque facts:

• Plaque is made up of millions of colonies of live bacterial cells

• Every twelve hours, new layers of plaque form – it is called a pellicle layer

• Brushing interrupts colony growth on the backs, fronts and tops of teeth

• Flossing is the only way to disrupt the growth between your teeth

Eliminating the plaque in your mouth will decrease cavities, gum disease and bad breath.

– Nancy Sarnowitz, Canton Dental Collaborative