Dental plaque -
What Is Dental Plaque? Dental Plaque Leads to Tartar Buildup What Causes Dental Plaque and Tartar? Spotting the Early Signs of Plaque on Teeth Conditions Related to Dental Plaque and Tartar Steps to Prevent Plaque and Tartar Buildup Dental Plaque and Tartar Removal.
Dental plaque, also known as tooth plaque, microbial plaque and dental biofilm, is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth.
Plaque is an extremely sticky, colorless to pale yellow deposit of biofilm that regularly forms on your teeth. When saliva, food, and fluids combine they produce bacteria deposits, which collect where the teeth and gums meet.
Plaque contains bacteria, which produce acids that attack your tooth enamel and can damage your gums. If not treated, the damage could become permanent.
It contains millions of bacteria that feed on the food and drinks you eat every day. And while you can remove plaque at home, tartar removal requires the help of a dental professional. Tartar, also called dental calculus, is a yellow or brown colored deposit that forms when plaque hardens on your teeth.
Because tartar buildup on teeth is strongly bonded to the tooth enamel, it can only be removed by a dental professional. You have a greater risk of developing tartar with braces, dry mouth, crowded teeth, smoking and aging. Calculus buildup can be removed with ultrasonic tools or dental hand instruments such as a periodontal scaler.
The word comes from Latin calculus "small stone", from calx "limestone, lime", [1] probably related to Greek χάλιξ chalix "small stone, pebble, rubble", [2] which many [ who?
This spun off many modern words, including "calculate" use stones for mathematical purposes , and "calculus", which came to be used, in the 18th century, for accidental or incidental mineral buildups in human and animal bodies, like kidney stones and minerals on teeth.
Tartar, on the other hand, originates in Greek as well tartaron , but as the term for the white encrustation inside casks a. potassium bitartrate , commonly known as cream of tartar. This came to be a term used for calcium phosphate on teeth in the early 19th century.
Calculus is composed of both inorganic mineral and organic cellular and extracellular matrix components. The organic extracellular matrix in calculus consists primarily of proteins and lipids fatty acids, triglycerides, glycolipids, and phospholipids , [5] as well as extracellular DNA.
The processes of calculus formation from dental plaque are not well understood. Supragingival calculus formation is most abundant on the buccal cheek surfaces of the maxillary upper jaw molars and on the lingual tongue surfaces of the mandibular lower jaw incisors. Subgingival calculus forms below the gumline and is typically darkened in color by the presence of black-pigmented bacteria, [15] whose cells are coated in a layer of iron obtained from heme during gingival bleeding.
The formation of calculus varies widely among individuals and at different locations within the mouth. Many variables have been identified that influence the formation of dental calculus, including age, gender, ethnic background, diet, location in the oral cavity, oral hygiene, bacterial plaque composition, host genetics, access to professional dental care, physical disabilities, systemic diseases, tobacco use, and drugs and medications.
Plaque accumulation causes the gingiva to become irritated and inflamed, and this is referred to as gingivitis.
When the gingiva become so irritated that there is a loss of the connective tissue fibers that attach the gums to the teeth and bone that surrounds the tooth, this is known as periodontitis.
Dental plaque is not the sole cause of periodontitis; however it is many times referred to as a primary aetiology.
Plaque that remains in the oral cavity long enough will eventually calcify and become calculus. When plaque is supragingival, the bacterial content contains a great proportion of aerobic bacteria and yeast , [18] or those bacteria which utilize and can survive in an environment containing oxygen.
Subgingival plaque contains a higher proportion of anaerobic bacteria , or those bacteria which cannot exist in an environment containing oxygen. Several anaerobic plaque bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis , [19] secrete antigenic proteins that trigger a strong inflammatory response in the periodontium , the specialized tissues that surround and support the teeth.
Prolonged inflammation of the periodontium leads to bone loss and weakening of the gingival fibers that attach the teeth to the gums, two major hallmarks of periodontitis. Supragingival calculus formation is nearly ubiquitous in humans, [20] [21] [22] but to differing degrees.
Almost all individuals with periodontitis exhibit considerable subgingival calculus deposits. Toothpaste with pyrophosphates or zinc citrate has been shown to produce a statistically significant reduction in plaque accumulation, but the effect of zinc citrate is so modest that its clinical importance is questionable.
Calculus formation in other animals is less well studied than in humans, but it is known to form in a wide range of species. Domestic pets, such as dogs and cats , frequently accumulate large calculus deposits.
Dental calculus has been shown to contain well preserved microparticles, DNA and protein in archaeological samples. Sub-gingival calculus is composed almost entirely of two components: fossilized anaerobic bacteria whose biological composition has been replaced by calcium phosphate salts, and calcium phosphate salts that have joined the fossilized bacteria in calculus formations.
The following minerals are detectable in calculus by X-ray diffraction : brushite Ca H PO 4 · 2 H 2 O , octacalcium phosphate Ca 8 H 2 PO 4 6 · 5 H 2 O , magnesium-containing whitlockite Ca 9 Mg,Fe PO 4 6 PO 3 OH , and carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite approximately Ca 5 PO 4 3 OH but containing some carbonate.
The reason fossilized bacteria are initially attracted to one part of the subgingival tooth surface over another is not fully understood; once the first layer is attached, ionized calculus components are naturally attracted to the same places due to electrical charge.
The fossilized bacteria pile on top of one another, in a rather haphazard manner. All the while, free-floating ionic components fill in the gaps left by the fossilized bacteria. The resultant hardened structure can be compared to concrete; with the fossilized bacteria playing the role of aggregate, and the smaller calcium phosphate salts being the cement.
The once purely electrical association of fossilized bacteria then becomes mechanical, with the introduction of free-floating calcium phosphate salts.
The "hardened" calculus formations are at the heart of periodontal disease and treatment. Plaque and calculus deposits are a major etiological factor in the development and progression of oral disease. An important part of the scope of practice of a dental hygienist is the removal of plaque and calculus deposits.
This is achieved through the use of specifically designed instruments for debridement of tooth surfaces. To effectively manage disease or maintain oral health, thorough removal of calculus deposits should be completed at frequent intervals.
The recommended frequency of dental hygiene treatment can be made by a registered professional, and is dependent on individual patient needs. Hand instruments are specially designed tools used by dental professionals to remove plaque and calculus deposits that have formed on the teeth.
Universal curettes can be used in multiple areas, while area specific instruments are designed for select tooth surfaces.
These are beneficial when removing large amounts of calculus or tenacious calculus that cannot be removed with a curette or scaler alone.
Ultrasonic scalers, also known as power scalers, are effective in removing calculus, stain, and plaque. These scalers are also useful for root planing, curettage, and surgical debridement.
Oscillating material in both of these handpieces cause the tip of the scaler to vibrate at high speeds, between 18, and 50, Hz. Special tips for ultrasonic scalers are designed to address different areas of the mouth and varying amounts of calculus buildup.
Larger tips are used for heavy subgingival or supragingival calculus deposits, whereas thinner tips are designed more for definitive subgingival debridement. Current research on potentially more effective methods of subgingival calculus removal focuses on the use of near-ultraviolet and near-infrared lasers, such as Er,Cr:YSGG lasers.
Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Bacteria and other organisms come in when you eat, drink, and breathe. A delicate balance is maintained in your oral ecosystem most of the time, but problems can arise when certain strains of bacteria become overabundant.
When you eat carbs and sugary foods and drinks, bacteria feed on the sugars, producing acids in the process. Those acids can cause problems like cavities, gingivitis , and other forms of tooth decay. Most of the time, plaque is colourless or pale yellow.
A dentist can spot plaque on your teeth using a small mirror during an oral examination. You can remove plaque by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Some dentists recommend electric toothbrushes because they are believed to be more effective at removing plaque. A review of studies showed that using toothpaste containing baking soda is a good way to eliminate plaque.
Plaque that has hardened into tartar will have to be removed by a dental professional. Your dentist or oral hygienist can remove it when you have a regular dental checkup and cleaning.
To keep the bacteria in plaque from harming your teeth and gums, the most important thing you can do is clean your teeth every day. Brush your teeth twice a day, and brush after eating sugary foods.
To learn an effective technique for removing plaque while you brush, try the method recommended here:. And a vital part of good oral health is visiting your dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups.
Consider a mouth rinse product when you rinse and floss to get at the bacteria between your teeth. Mouth rinses have lots of different active ingredients: Chlorhexidine CHX , probiotic, herbal, and essential oil mouth rinses have all been studied.
CHX is available by prescription only. While it effectively reduces plaque buildup and overall gum health, it can stain teeth, increase tartar buildup, and change the way food tastes. A study showed both types significantly improve plaque levels without the staining with a CHX rinse.
Some studies have also found that rinse products containing essential oils result in less plaque buildup than brushing and flossing alone. Listerine Cool Mint, for example, contains small amounts of menthol, thyme, wintergreen, and eucalyptus oils, and a review of studies found it reduces both plaque and gingivitis.
Talk to your dentist about including cranberry products in your diet. Lab studies have shown that polyphenols in cranberries are effective deterrents to two of the mouth bacteria most likely to lead to cavities: Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus.
Plaque forms in your mouth every night as you sleep and during the day as you eat and drink. If you practice good oral hygiene, limit sugary foods and drinks, and see your dentist twice a year to have plaque thoroughly removed, you can keep its growth manageable.
Without regular cleanings, plaque may harden into tartar or cause cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. Plaque is a sticky film that forms on your teeth as you sleep and as you move through your day. The bacteria in plaque feed on carbs and sugars, producing acid as they metabolize the sugars.
The acids can damage your enamel and the roots of your teeth, leading to gum disease and tooth decay. The good news is that with thorough brushing, flossing, rinsing with a mouthwash, and biannual trips to the dentist, you should be able to keep the growth of plaque to a minimum and maintain health of your mouth.
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Dentap Is Dental Plaque? Dental plaque Plaque Dental plaque to Tartar Buildup Dental plaque Causes Dntal Dental plaque and Tartar? Spotting plaqu Early Debtal of Plaque on Teeth Conditions Related to Dental Plaque and Tartar Dental plaque to Orange Baking Recipes Plaque plaqur Tartar Buildup Dental Plaque and Tartar Removal. Dental plaque, also known as tooth plaque, microbial plaque and dental biofilm, is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth. Plaque is an extremely sticky, colorless to pale yellow deposit of biofilm that regularly forms on your teeth. When saliva, food, and fluids combine they produce bacteria deposits, which collect where the teeth and gums meet. Plaque contains bacteria, which produce acids that attack your tooth enamel and can damage your gums.Dental plaque -
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Test Overview A self-examination for dental plaque is done using a product that stains the plaque on your teeth. Products you can use at home include: Disclosing tablets. Disclosing solution.
Disclosing swabs. Why It Is Done Plaque forms on the teeth every day and needs to be removed. How To Prepare You will need a: Supply of disclosing tablets, disclosing solution, or disclosing swabs. Small dental mirror to check hard-to-see areas of your mouth.
A mirror is helpful but not required. How It Is Done You will brush and floss your teeth. Disclosing tablets Chew a disclosing tablet and allow it to mix with your saliva. Disclosing solution Put some disclosing solution in your mouth, swish it around for about 30 seconds, and then spit the solution out.
Disclosing swabs Apply the swab to all tooth surfaces in your mouth. How It Feels Disclosing tablets and disclosing solution do not cause any discomfort.
Risks After you use the disclosing tablets, your mouth and tongue may be temporarily stained for as long as a day with a harmless dye. Results If you see that the dye has stained any plaque in your mouth along gum lines and between teeth, you can brush and floss more carefully.
Related Information Medical Tests: Questions to Ask the Doctor. Credits Current as of: November 14, Current as of: November 14, Disclosing tablets for dental plaque. About This Page General Feedback Email Link Physical Activity Services We appreciate your feedback.
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If plaque is not removed on a regular basis, it will harden and turn into tartar calculus. Your dentist or hygienist should show you the correct way to brush and floss. Prevention is key to oral health. Brush at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time.
The brush head should have medium to soft, rounded bristles and not be too large for your mouth, letting you reach every surface in your mouth easily. The toothpaste should contain fluoride, and not be too abrasive. Electric toothbrushes have been shown to clean teeth better than manual brushes.
Some have timers to tell you when two minutes have passed. Other tips for preventing and removing tartar or plaque on your teeth include:.
Tartar and plaque on teeth; Calculus; Dental plaque; Tooth plaque; Microbial plaque; Dental biofilm. Chow AW. Infections of the oral cavity, neck, and head. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds.
Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Teughels W, Laleman I, Quirynen M, Jakubovics N.
Biofilm and periodontal microbiology. In: Newman MG, Takei HH, Klokkevold PR, Carranza FA, eds. Newman and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology.
Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 8. Updated by: Michael Kapner, DDS, General Dentistry, Norwalk Medical Center, Norwalk CT.
The sticky coating helps the Dental plaque attach to surfaces in your mouth so Dental plaque can grow into Dsntal microcolonies. Tartar Alpha-lipoic acid uses up along your gum pllaque on eDntal fronts Dental plaque backs olaque your teeth. Dentsl mouth Dentql a thriving ecosystem. Bacteria and other organisms come in when you eat, drink, and breathe. A delicate balance is maintained in your oral ecosystem most of the time, but problems can arise when certain strains of bacteria become overabundant. When you eat carbs and sugary foods and drinks, bacteria feed on the sugars, producing acids in the process. Those acids can cause problems like cavities, gingivitisand other forms of tooth decay.
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