Dr. Rupali Jakhadi, Smile Care, Nashik

Dental plaque is a biofilm which builds up on and surrounding the teeth. Plaque is Sticky and usually colorless. It forms every day on teeth.

Content of plaque :

Plaque is formed by microorganisms embedded in the matrix made up of saliva. Most of the microorganisms are bacteria (mainly Steptococcus mutans and anaerobes). The anaerobes include Fusobacterium and Actinobacteria. The composition varies by the location of plaque.

How the plaque causes harm :

The microorganisms found in plaque are usually seen in mouth at all times and are harmless. They feed on many of the foods we eat. Carbohydrates and sugars are their favorite. Plaque sticks to the teeth. If not removed properly by tooth brushing it will build up in thick layers. Those Microorganisms which are nearest to the tooth convert to anaerobic respiration. In this stage they produce acids.

Being the thick film saliva can not penetrate and cannot neutralize the acid produced by bacteria. These acids demineralise the closest tooth surface. Thus it will lead to dental caries.

Plaque also causes irritation of gums and leads to gingivitis and if not removed, further will lead to priodontitis and tooth loss. Plaque can also mineralize and become hard called calculus (tartar) which invites more deposits causing more gum problems.

Testing of plaque :

Plaque is usually clear and can not be seen by necked eyes unless it is colored with a special dye. Dentist can identify plaque with dental instruments. Testing of plaque should be done after brushing and flossing to see if any residual plaque is remaining. It can be done by two ways.

• In this method, special tablets containing red dye is chewed thoroughly and mixture of saliva and dye is moved over teeth and gums for about 30sec.Mouth is then rinsed. The unremoved plaque gets stained pink which can be removed later on by brushing.
• In second method a special fluorescent solution is swirled around the mouth. Mouth is then rinsed with water and teeth and gums are examined while shining an ultraviolet plaque light in to the mouth. There are no pink stains in mouth with this method.

Control of plaque :

Some of the plaque is removed by saliva and by movement of cheeks and tongue over the teeth.

Regular brushing and flossing everyday (at least two times) is necessary to remove the plaque.

Regular professional cleaning by a dentist is the best way to get rid of the plaque and tartar.