Your tongue, teeth, gums, taste buds, and saliva are the obvious tenants of your oral cavity, and hopefully you know the importance of keeping it all clean with a good oral hygiene routine. Yet, like all things in this vast and wonderful world of ours, there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to the inside of your mouth. Astoria dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, tests your knowledge of the inhabitants that you can’t see milling about the inside of your mouth.
Meet the Germs!
How many different bacteria are in your mouth?
Experts have identified over 600 different kinds of bacteria in the human mouth. As you read this, those microbes equal upwards of 10-15 billion individual germs.
What risks do these bacteria pose to your oral health?
Most of the massive bacterial population in your mouth is harmless, and helps to maintain your mouth’s delicate ecology. Some however, are responsible for devastating processes that can destroy your oral health. For instance, bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease are only a few of the consequences of excessive bacterial plaque.
What is dental plaque, and how is it connected to oral bacteria?
When enough bacteria gather, they form a biofilm called plaque that holds them together and sticks to your teeth and gums’ surfaces. Dental plaque provides a safe-haven for bacteria to continue to proliferate and conduct their damaging work.
How do you prevent bacterial plaque buildup?
Controlling oral bacteria is as simple as brushing and flossing your teeth on a daily basis. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, with the ADA seal of approval, to prevent damaging your tooth structure with harsh brushing.
Excellent Dental Care in Astoria
To learn more about oral bacteria and its effect on your oral health, or to schedule a dental consultation, contact Dr. Leibowitz by calling our Queens dental officeat (718) 728-8320. We proudly serve patients from Astoria, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the surrounding communities.
