Facts about plaque.

Plaque is the soft, yellow-white material found on teeth and gums. While in its soft state, a person can clean it off with a toothbrush and floss. Once the plaque has calcified (or hardened) into calculus (commonly known as tartar), a dentist or dental hygienist must remove it during a thorough professional cleaning.

Plaque is actually composed of several species of bacteria. Furthermore, different types of plaque are associated with different dental diseases (decay, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc.).

The genus of bacteria most often found in plaque is Streptococcus, specifically the species Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis. In experiments dealing with gingivitis, 160 different types of bacteria were found with 74 of these increasing as plaque was allowed to continue its formation.

 These include Actinomyces, Streptococcus, Fusobacterium and more. Periodontitis is associated with some similar species of gingivitis along with more filamentous forms, flagellated forms, "bristle brush" forms, spirochetes, and other motile (moving) organisms.

Plaque actually causes disease, especially tooth decay, by secreting acid after the bacteria digest food items left on your teeth and gums after a meal. It is the acid that actually dissolves the tooth structure and eventually causes a cavity. For more information on this topic, please see my article entitled: What causes a cavity?

The main weapons against plaque and plaque formation are the toothbrush, floss and other oral hygiene aids such as toothpicks and rubber tips. The mechanical break-up and removal of the plaque on a daily basis is required to prevent tooth decay and gum diseases. The chemicals in toothpaste and mouth rinses can also aid in this battle but are no substitute for the mechanical removal of plaque.

 Also, none of the chemical methods effectively remove plaque below the gums once the pocket depths between the teeth and gums reach 4-5mm. There is always a pocket that forms between your tooth and gum tissue. Healthy tissue will generally have a pocket depth of 1-3mm. Professional cleanings and check-ups on a regular basis are needed to help control plaque and its consequences.

Once plaque has caused a cavity, a filing or other restoration is needed. Once plaque has caused gum disease, several treatment options are available. We will be adding an article to our dental web site in the future that discusses various treatment options for gum disease. Prevention by regular brushing and flossing together with regular visits to your dentist is the best strategy.