PLAQUE
Dental plaque is a biofilm that develops naturally on the teeth. If allowed to accumulate it can lead to bleeding and gum inflammation (gingivitis) and over time may even cause tooth loss. In the beginning the plaque is soft enough to come off if scraped with a fingernail. If not removed it starts to harden within 48 hours; in about 10 days the plaque becomes dental calculus, i.e. tartar, which is rock-hard and difficult to remove.
The best way of preventing gum disease is by removing plaque regularly and thoroughly with the use of a toothbrush and specialist aids designed for cleaning between the teeth. It is however recognised by the dental profession that a substantial number of people are not able to adequately control plaque. Studies show that even those adults who brush their teeth twice daily, almost three quarters had some visible plaque on their teeth and 73% had some tartar (calculus) deposits.
Dental plaque can give rise to dental caries (tooth decay) – the localised destruction of the tissues of the tooth by acid produced from the bacterial degradation of fermentable sugars – and inflammatory diseases such as gingivitis and chronic periodontisis – a more destructive inflammatory disease.
