Bacteria, food remains and mucus from saliva form plaque. This plaque settles in the interdental spaces, the pits on the tooth surfaces and especially on the gumline. It is difficult to detect because of its grayish yellow color.
Development of dental plaque
Bacteria are the basis for the formation of plaque. If sufficient water and nutrients are available, these bacteria can adhere to the surface of the enamel and form a film. It is not yet clear exactly which bacteria are involved.
However, it is suspected that the bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum and other aerobic bacteria are responsible for the initial attachment. Aerobic means that these bacteria need air to survive. Only in the course of biofilm growth do other even more harmful bacteria appear.
Mostly these are anaerobic bacteria, which can survive even in deeper plaque layers because they do not need air to survive. Because of its tough and sticky consistency, due to the dextranes formed by the bacteria, the plaque cannot be washed away, but can only be removed with a toothbrush and dental floss. The most dangerous components of dental plaque are sugar-processing bacteria, mainly Streptococcus mutans and anaerobic bacteria such as Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.
In addition, they ensure the cohesion of dental plaque through sticky excretions. The anaerobes attack the gums and, if they are not removed, they penetrate the periodontium and destroy it. After the plaque is removed, plaque reappears in a short period of time, so brushing teeth must be done daily after meals.
Plaque is a sticky, colorless film that adheres to the tooth surface. Increasingly, it is found at the edge of the gums and in the spaces between the teeth. It is a soft dental plaque consisting of saliva, bacteria and their metabolic products.
It can be removed at home with dental floss and toothbrush. However, if you brush badly, this film calcifies, which leads to the formation of solid plaque. This causes tartar and discoloration.
It also promotes periodontosis and can only be removed at the dentist with a professional dental cleaning. These articles may also be of interest to you: The right dental careThe pellicle is a thin coating of the tooth after it is completely cleaned. This happens within 30 minutes after the cleaning is finished.
The coating provides a protective layer for the tooth and is therefore not harmful to the tooth. Not only the tooth is covered, but everything in the oral cavity, such as fillings, dentures, gums and the oral mucosa. This protective layer is made of proteins, i.e. protein substances that come from saliva. The pellicle can be removed by brushing the teeth, but – as already mentioned – it is always renewed quickly.
