Dental Plaque - Causes, Risks, Side Effects and Prevention

What Is a Dental Plaque?

It is bothersome to rinse the mouth after every snack, right? Well, not rinsing can form a sticky layer that influences the teeth towards a bad side. This slimy layer named dental plaque is a normally occurring tooth-associated problem that sets a base for anything beyond normal happening in the oral cavity. Keeping it from building up is the first and foremost step in maintaining good oral hygiene, as hardened dental plaque is not something that can be managed with home care. Read further for the causes, risk factors, prevention, and management of dental plaque.

How Does a Dental Plaque Develop?

The mouth normally contains a wide range of good and bad bacteria. When a person fails to rinse the mouth after eating sticky-natured food, predominantly food containing carbohydrates and sugars, the bad bacterial level in the mouth increases. These bacteria combine with the stuck food and form acids, which results in a sticky layer covering the teeth and gums called dental plaque.

What Does a Plaque Look Like?

Plaque is colorless, but at times, it can result in tooth discoloration. This occurs as the food substances get stuck to these plaques. Dental plaque can make the teeth look fuzzy.

What Is the Difference Between Plaque and Tartar?

Tartar is the hardened form of plaque. When the plaque is not eliminated regularly, it can result in the formation of tartar. At this stage, tartar cannot be removed by brushing or flossing; it needs to be eliminated with the help of the dentist. Tartar appears white or yellowish in the initial stages. Later, it takes up the food color that is consumed.

What Are the Causes of Dental Plaque Formation?

Plaque formation can result due to:

• Poor oral hygiene.

• Wrong brushing techniques and insufficient or faulty oral hygiene practices.

• Plaque formation happens in a shorter period when there is less saliva production (dry mouth) or ropey saliva production.

• During sleep, the bacterial level in the mouth is higher than when awake, as the mouth is at rest and not functioning during sleep. Therefore, plaque formation during sleep is inevitable.

Who Is at High Risk of Plaque Formation?

Generally, plaque can form in any mouth. But, certain conditions favor higher incidence rates, such as;

• A person who has less importance for oral hygiene accumulates plaque eventually.

• Patients undergoing chemo or radiation therapies have a drug mouth as a complication, which favors plaque buildup.

• Conditions like diabetes, Sjogren's syndrome, etc., or a drug’s side effects cause dry mouth. Also, some people have naturally low saliva production, which puts them at risk of relatively more plaque formation.

• Immunocompromised individuals, those who have difficulty maintaining oral hygiene, and those who depend on others for maintenance, like mentally disabled individuals, have more risk of plaque buildup.

What Are the Ill Effects of Plaque Formation?

The dental plaque, when left unremoved, can progress into a harder and more problematic mineral deposit called tartar or calculus, which is basically a calcified form of plaque that causes multiple damages to teeth.

• The very prevalent ill-effect of dental plaque is tooth decay.

• Gum disease can occur when the plaque keeps building up. It can progress into either gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) or periodontitis (more pronounced gum disease with periodontal inflammation, a structure that surrounds and holds the tooth in place).

• Tooth infections and abscesses can result in more severe cases.

• Plaque can build up subgingivally (below the gums) as well, involving the root portions of the teeth, which go unnoticed and damage the tooth root and even the underlying bone. The subgingival plaque has even caused major health complications, as per studies.

• Dental plaque, due to its microbial content, can cause infections in the oral tissues and damage them.

How to Remove Dental Plaque?

Early plaque goes off by normal everyday hygiene practices like brushing, flossing, and mouth rinsing using mouthwash as and when it is noticed. Leaving it unattended for a long period will lead to calcification called dental calculus or tartar, which does not go with normal brushing or flossing. In such cases, only a professional dentist or a dental hygienist can remove the calcified plaque or calculus by a procedure called scaling (professional cleaning).

How to Prevent Dental Plaque Formation?

Hygiene is the only standard that keeps teeth from getting plaque. Following are some everyday habits that need to be done to prevent plaque;

• Rinsing: Mouth rinsing after every meal and even a snack is very important in preventing plaque. Eating food containing sugars and carbohydrates increases the chances of food getting stuck in the teeth; thorough rinsing can wash off the food debris to an extent.

• Diet Alterations: Minimize foods that hamper oral health, such as sticky food, food containing artificial sweeteners, carbohydrate-rich foods, etc. Even if taken, do not forget to rinse and follow the necessary oral hygiene practices.

• Brushing: To brush twice a day by now has become a tooth mantra that everybody should follow, not just to prevent plaque but to prevent every other dental trouble.

• Flossing: Floss once a day. It is a must-do, though many people are not aware of the importance of flossing. It is an effective way to fight many tooth problems.

• Mouthwash: Though not an everyday necessity, mouthwashes need to be used when mouth condition demands. Alcohol-containing mouthwashes should not be used for a person suffering from dry mouth, as they can worsen dry mouth.

• Sugarless Gums and Candies: As dry mouth is a causative factor in plaque formation, fighting dry mouth is equally important as controlling plaque. Chewing sugarless gums and sucking sugarless candies come into the act of stimulating salivary production in people with dry mouths. These are the best ways to fight plaque if the cause is less salivary production.

• Dental Visit: The last but most important tip to preventing plaque is getting the oral cavity examined by a professional at regular intervals. An oral examination or a dental checkup is mandatory once every six months or a year for a problem-free oral cavity.

How Can a Person Tell Whether They Have a Plaque on Their Tooth Surface?

The plaque will be present if the person feels that their teeth look or feel fuzzy. To make sure of it, they should consult with the dentist.

Conclusion:

Plaque by itself is not a serious tooth problem and can be managed easily with home remedies. However, when ignored initially, plaque can hamper oral health and create maximal damage, including tooth loss. So, noticing a thin film and removing it immediately will prevent all of its following complications. Also, knowing the importance of at-home oral hygiene and periodic dental visits is a must to detect anything at its initial stage with just a mirror. Plaque prevention, indeed, is better than requiring a dental cure.