Question: I brush my teeth at night, but when I wake up in the morning, there is a slimy film covering my teeth. What is this film on my teeth in the morning?
This is a common question for many people, especially those who brush regularly. Having a film on your teeth when you wake up can be a little confusing, but it’s a normal occurrence.
We wrote a post a few weeks ago about white discharge in the mouth after brushing as a result of harsh toothpaste actually burning the outer tissue of the oral cavity. Make sure that the film in your mouth that you are experiencing isn’t this dead tissue that forms in gobs on your gums and teeth. If it is, you should switch toothpastes to a more gentle formula.
If you’ve ruled out the harsh toothpaste factor, then it’s almost certain that the film on your teeth in the morning is indeed plaque. Plaque is a sticky mix of bacteria and the substances that the bacteria secrete. One of the substances that bacteria produce is an adhesive chemical called mucopolysaccharides which help the bacteria live on the teeth in the form of a thin film, called “biofilm.”
So, if you have bacteria in your mouth, while you sleep this bacteria could be hard at work on your teeth in this biofilm. When you wake, you’ll feel the film on your teeth.
To keep plaque from building up on your teeth and turning into harmful tartar, be sure that you are brushing your teeth at least two times a day for two minutes per brushing period. Use a quality toothbrush and toothpaste that will breakdown plaque and fully clean your teeth, gums and tongue. Also be sure to floss with each brushing period to get the food particles that can be left behind from brushing.
If you have any questions about how you can keep plaque at bay, contact the professionals at DentaLux today!
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