NASA’s Exciting Planet Discovery and Your Teeth

NASA’s recent discovery of exoplanets (planets existing outside our home solar system) has everyone thinking about life in unexpected places. Three of these planets may have the environment to sustain life. Can you believe it? Discovery of life on other planets may soon be a reality!

Speaking of life in unexpected places, did you know that your teeth have a delicate ecosystem of their own? Like tiny atmospheric planets, your teeth are home to their own type of life– bacteria, both friendly and unfriendly, live and grow on the surface of your very own teeth.

Why is this important, you ask? Because the balance of bacteria can determine whether you keep your natural teeth or have to replace them. In a nutshell, to maintain a healthy environment in your mouth, you need to limit the growth of the bad bacteria. Bad bacteria, also known as plaque, feed off of the starchy and sugary things you eat, and when left unchecked, grow to form whole colonies which cause cavities and gum disease. Daily brushing and flossing help to limit the growth of plaque, but even if you do both, plaque will still try to take over your tiny teeth planets.

If left long enough, plaque turns into calculus. Less fun than math in your mouth, calculus is a super hard substance that you can’t remove by regular home care. When you come in for a hygiene appointment, your hygienist takes the calculus off of your teeth for you. And trust me, you want to have it removed—calculus leads to gum disease and decay.

Our hygienists are experts at taking care of your teeth for you. We’d like to invite you to come in and meet them! We would be happy to help maintain the balance of your own tiny planets and help you discover your own healthy eco-system.