Introduction
After eating, a substance generally known as plaque develops on the surface of the teeth, especially in hard-to-reach areas. These deposits are composed of protein, carbohydrates and microorganisms. The protein part of plaque is made up of saliva protein and the remains of dead cells of the oral mucosa.
This plaque component is formed within a period of about 30 minutes after the last tooth cleaning and is not harmful to the tooth substance, gums or the periodontium. However, the main part of the plaque consists of food residues (for example carbohydrates), bacteria and their metabolic end products and has a harmful influence on the oral flora and dental health. Plaque that remains on the tooth surface for a long period of time promotes the development of caries, gingivitis and/or periodontitis.
In addition, the initially soft plaque hardens over time and becomes hard to remove tartar. This tartar can lead to the formation of deep gum pockets and severe bone recession. In many cases, the result is the loss of teeth that are actually perfectly healthy.
For this reason, plaque should be thoroughly removed as regularly as possible. However, the use of a toothbrush alone is not sufficient in most cases to effectively remove all plaque within the oral cavity. Especially in the case of crooked teeth or very narrow spaces between the teeth, there are hard-to-reach areas that cannot be reached by the bristles of a toothbrush.
Therefore it is recommended to use a toothbrush at least once a day (interdental space brush) or to floss. The use of special antibacterial mouth rinsing solutions also helps to reduce the number of bacteria living in the oral cavity and thus plaque formation. Although plaque is relatively easy to feel when you brush your tongue over your teeth, it is not always visible to the naked eye.
Plaque can be made visible with the help of various preparations (as plaque tablets or as solutions) and dental care can be made easier. The ingredients of these preparations react with various components of plaque and thus take on a specific coloration. Most preparations are even able to distinguish between older (older than 48 hours) and fresh plaque. For many users, the use of special plaque detection tablets is the most convenient.