“What causes dental plaque?”
I am a 24 year old male. I want to know what causes dental plaque?
3 Answers
Great question with a potential long answer- but simply put, plaque is termed a biofilm of common bacterial inhabitants of the oral cavity. Added to this is food debris and in some cases bad bacteria related to periodontal disease.
Dental plaque shows on your teeth about 4-12 hours after brushing teeth. Sugary foods and drinks accelerate creation of the dental plaque - a colorless, sticky substance on your teeth. Bacteria always present in oral cavity inhabitant quickly original plaque and feed on it. As a result of their waste product, acid is produced that, if left for a prolonged period of time, leads to tooth decay and gingivitis. Originally, clear plaque becomes yellow, then hardens and transforms to dental tartar.
Hello,
Plaque is a biofilm which means it is made up of saliva, bacteria, bacterial DNA, sugars, calcium, phosphate, and a lot of other stuff.
Dental plaque forms naturally with or without most of these substance but there are certain things that will trigger more or less to accumulate. Certain foods (sugary foods) will no only develop more plaque but also do it quicker.
Things that stimulate saliva flow will bring more calcium into the mouth which hardens the plaque onto the teeth much like the way calcium strengthens our bones. Once plaque gets hardened onto the teeth it is referred to as calculus and it can no longer be removed at home by a tooth brush.
Certain local factors, such as crowns and tooth colored fillings, tend to accumulate more plaque as well. These restorations allow bacteria and plaque to stick to them better which creates a plaque-rich micro-environment.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
Plaque is a biofilm which means it is made up of saliva, bacteria, bacterial DNA, sugars, calcium, phosphate, and a lot of other stuff.
Dental plaque forms naturally with or without most of these substance but there are certain things that will trigger more or less to accumulate. Certain foods (sugary foods) will no only develop more plaque but also do it quicker.
Things that stimulate saliva flow will bring more calcium into the mouth which hardens the plaque onto the teeth much like the way calcium strengthens our bones. Once plaque gets hardened onto the teeth it is referred to as calculus and it can no longer be removed at home by a tooth brush.
Certain local factors, such as crowns and tooth colored fillings, tend to accumulate more plaque as well. These restorations allow bacteria and plaque to stick to them better which creates a plaque-rich micro-environment.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
