Barnacles love boats. A lot. You’ll find these things on hulls, propellers, and pretty much any submerged part of a boat. Over time, they form colonies and they grow and they grow and they grow.
These barnacles create two primary problem for boats.
Their weight and irregular shape cause significant drag, which requires increased power to maintain the same speed. That increased power, in turn, requires more fuel consumption. What is the overall cost of this “extra” fuel? Billions of dollars every year.
These barnacles can also cause damage, though not enough to sink a vessel (usually). Typically, the damage is confined to parts like the propeller or rudder. This kind of damage may not sink your boat, but it may very well sink your bank account.
These barnacles can’t be ignored. At regular intervals, they need to be removed. How? Typically with a scraper or a high-pressure washer. Not a fun task, but it has to be done.
This whole barnacle story is very analogous to what happens in your mouth.
Instead of barnacles, you have oral bacteria (a.k.a. plaque / tarter). Instead of boats, you have teeth.
Oral bacteria attach themselves to your teeth every day. Over time, they form colonies and they grow and they grow and they grow. These bacteria can’t be ignored. If left alone, the chance of long term damage is high. Worse case scenario…tooth loss. Because of that, these bacteria need to be removed from your teeth at regular intervals (brushing, flossing and professional cleanings every 3-6 months).
So far, both stories are pretty parallel.
But here’s the important difference.
If left unchecked, barnacles will probably not sink your boat, but if left unchecked, oral bacteria will probably “sink” your teeth.
Don’t let that happen.
If you are currently looking for a dentist in the Taunton, MA area, go see Dr. Mark Turner. He and his team will help you make your teeth unsinkable.