Plaque is a sticky, often colorless film of bacteria that builds up on the teeth. The bacteria feeds on starchy foods you eat and the plaque produces acids that damage the tooth enamel, cause cavities and form a hard substance called tarter. These can further lead to tooth decay and gum disease, known as periodontal disease. Severe gum disease can cause tooth and bone loss.

Fighting plaque is simple:

1. Brush your teeth twice daily with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to remove food particles and plaque from the surface of your teeth. Also, brush the the surface of your tongue to eliminate the build-up of bacteria that cause bad breath.
2. Floss daily or use an interdental cleaner to remove plaque between teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach. Make sure you also clean under the gum line.
3. Eat a balanced diet and limit snacking between meals. If you need a snack, choose healthy foods like vegetables, fruit, yogurt or cheese.
4. Visit your dentist regularly. Maintain a healthy mouth with professional cleanings and oral exams every six months.
5. Ask about dental sealants. Your dentist or hygienist can apply a protective plastic coating to surfaces of your teeth that are most vulnerable to decay.
6. Wear mouth protection during contact sports or extreme sports. Mouthguards can help keep you from breaking or losing teeth as a result of high impact.

Tooth decay, also known as cavity or caries, is a disease caused by bacteria that damage the hard structure of the tooth.

Cavities are easier and less expensive to treat while they are small. Some are so small that you may not even know that you have them. Your dentist can check for these during oral exams, with x-rays as needed. The dentist treats caries by cleaning out the cavity and filling it with restorative material.

Gum disease or periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because this infection of the supporting tissue of your teeth is often painless, you my not realize that you have gum disease. During your regular oral exams, your dentist measures the depth of the space between your teeth and gums to check for gum disease.

Like tooth decay, gum disease is caused by plaque build-up. The bacteria in plaque attack below the gum line, causing the tooth and its supporting tissues to separate. Periodontal disease, based on its severity, is classified into two stages: gingivitis and periodontitis.

Early-stage gum disease is called gingivitis, where the gums turn red, swollen and prone to bleeding. The disease is still reversible at this stage through daily brushing and flossing.

Advanced-stage gum disease is called periodontitis, where there is serious damage to the gums and bone that support the teeth. Teeth may come loose and fall out, or they may have to be removed by a dentist.

The risk of periodontal disease may be increased by the following:

1. Loose dental bridges
2. Misaligned teeth
3. Defective tooth fillings
4. Smoking or chewing tobacco
5. Pregnancy
6. Diabetes and other systemic diseases
7. Medications like cancer and epilepsy drugs, oral contraceptives and steroids

See your dentist right away if you notice these signs of gum disease:

1. Bleeding gums
2. Red, tender or swollen gums
3. Gums separating from teeth
4. Bad breath or taste that is persistent
5. Pus developing between gums and teeth
6. Loose adult teeth
7. Change in fit between teeth when you bite
8. Change in fit of dentures

Because periodontal disease may not exhibit any warning sighs, it is important to schedule regular dentist visits for oral examinations. To keep gum disease from worsening or recurring, make good oral hygiene a part of your healthy lifestyle. Brush and floss daily, and eat a healthy diet between visits to your dentist.

1. Position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums.
2. Gently brush in a circular motion.
3. Brush outer, inner and chewing surfaces of each tooth.
4. Use the tip of the burh for inner surfaces of front teeth.

Replace your toothbrush every three or four months. Replace children's toothbrushes more frequently if they wear out quickly.

1. Wind 18 inches of floss around the middle finger of both hands, mostly on one finger. As the floss is used, unwind a cleansection from one finger and wind the used section around the other finger.
2. Using your thumbs and forefingers, guide the floss between your teeth.
3. Gently work the floss between two teeth. Curve the floss into a C-shape against each tooth and clean under the gum line.
4. Slide the floss up and down the sides of the teeth. Repeat the process for each tooth.

If you have difficulty using dental floss, try other types of cleaners like interdental brushes or picks. Ask your dentist about how to use them properly.

A child's first visit to the dentist should be a positive and enjoyable experience. While children are not born afraid of the dentist, they may naturally fear what is unknown to them. Dr. Seznik makes your child's first visit a pleasant and comfortable experience from the time you arrive at our office.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children have their first visit to the dentist by their first birthday. It is important for children to receive proper dental care and to develop good oral hygiene habits early to help them have a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

A child's first tooth appears between the ages of 6 and 12 months. The rest of the 20 primary or "baby" teeth usually erupt by age 3. When teeth erupt, gums may become tender and sore, and may make the child feel irritable. You can help relieve the pain by rubbing the gums with a clean finger or cloth, or you may offer the child a "teether" or teething toy.

As the permanent or adult teeth begin to erupt at around age 6, the primary teeth come loose and are shed throughout childhood, until about age 21. Adults grow 32 permanent teeth, including the third molars or "wisdom teeth".

As new teeth appear, examine them frequently for changes in color or lines that may be signs of tooth decay. Sugary foods and liquids attack teeth and gums so help and teach your children to brush their teeth after feeding or eating. When your child's first tooth arrives, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste and encourage brushing after every meal and before bedtime.

Flossing is an important part of good oral hygiene, so ask your dentist about the right time to start flossing. If you see signs of decay, contact your dentist immediately.

You can prevent tooth decay. It is caused by sugars that remain in your mouth, turn into acid and break down your teeth.

Children and adolescents are at the highest risk of tooth decay because they have not yet completely developed good oral hygiene habits. Show them the importance of brushing, flossing, a low-sugar diet and regular visits to the dentist.

If possible, take your child for dental check-ups every six months. Fluoride treatments at these visits help maintain tooth strength. Also, tooth sealants help keep decay from forming on hard to reach surfaces of the teeth. These sealants last for many years but should be inspected regularly by a dentist.