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Dental Plaque
Keeping those pearly whites glimmering
There's nothing quite like it when someone flashes you a big smile of dazzling teeth. And there's nothing quite like being able to give them one of those priceless smiles right back. It feels good to have clean teeth and fresh breath.
But how do we ensure that our bright whites will be there in the years to come? How do we take care of our teeth? Most of us have been told to brush, floss, and see our dentist regularly, but few of us even know why.
Dental plaque is a thin, sticky film of bacteria that grows on teeth. The basic elements of dental care -- brushing, flossing, and going to the dentist regularly -- will all help prevent the buildup of plaque.
Advances in dental science and in our understanding of dental disease now make it possible for us to take better care of our teeth than ever before. The best part is this: it's easy to keep the glimmer on those pearly whites if you understand a little bit about plaque and stick to a sensible dental hygiene regimen.
Pronunciation
DEN-tal PLAK
Detailed Description
Foods high in sugar, such as candy and cookies, are most notorious for causing cavities. These foods also supply an ideal energy source for the bacteria of the mouth. After eating sweets, the bacteria in your mouth produce acids. Starches, such as bread, crackers, and cereal, also cause some acids to form. Every time you eat, acid is produced to some degree. After many meals and acid attacks, your teeth may begin to decay.
Plaque eventually hardens into tartar if allowed to grow. Tartar is an extremely tough substance. Though there are many tartar-control toothpastes on the market, these only help reduce the growth of tartar. Only a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar that is already there.
The bacteria of the mouth also produce substances that irritate the gums. These substances make the gums tender, red, and prone to bleeding. Eventually, the gums may loosen from the teeth and allow pockets to form and fill with even more bacteria, leading to further gum disease. Gum disease is the No. 1 cause of tooth loss in adults. Furthermore, gum disease has been associated with serious medical problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
How Common is Dental Plaque?
Everyone has plaque to some degree.
Possible Underlying Causes
The accumulation of bacteria that is naturally present in the mouth causes plaque. But plaque is more significant in mouths that lack adequate dental care and oral hygiene. People with poor eating habits (eating many sweets and starches and frequent meals) may also provide plaque with an ideal home.
Triggers of Dental Plaque
- Diet high in refined sugars
- Lack of a regular home oral hygiene schedule
- Lack of professional dental care
Diagnosing the Underlying Cause
Dental plaque is a treatable problem, but it can lead to more serious dental conditions if left alone. Below is a list of some common dental problems, some of which require professional dental care. Consult your dentist if you believe you have or are at risk of getting one of these conditions.
- Tooth decay: decalcification of the teeth due to acids produced by bacteria (plaque).
- Gingivitis: An early-stage gum disease marked by redness and irritation of the gums, often caused by plaque and food particles sticking to the base of the teeth. You can correct it with regular brushing and flossing.
- Halitosis: Another word for bad breath, often caused by gingivitis or tooth decay.
- Periodontitis: An advanced gum disease characterized by loose teeth and gums that have pulled away from the teeth. Periodontitis results in the loss of the bone that supports the teeth and may lead to tooth loss. It is also called periodontal disease.
Diagnostic Procedures
Your dentist can spot most dental problems during a routine examination. However, he or she may perform an X-ray to rule out the possibility of a serious problem.
Goals of Treatment
Treating plaque involves an ongoing effort on your part to make your mouth a healthier place. This includes good dental cleaning habits to remove plaque as well as good eating habits. In general, the treatment of plaque does not require a dentist. But it does require a long-term commitment to taking good care of your teeth.
Treatment Options
Drugs most commonly used
Prescription drugs are not necessary to treat plaque. However, an increasing number of toothpastes are now available. It is recommended that you select a toothpaste containing flouride to prevent tooth decay. Here's the skinny on a few different kinds of toothpaste:
- Tartar-control toothpaste: Although it doesn't get rid of tartar, it can reduce its accumulation by 36%, hopefully reducing the chances of gum disease.
- Baking soda toothpaste: Not effective against periodontal disease, but if it feels good, tastes good, and it encourages you to brush, use it.
- Hydrogen peroxide toothpaste: This effectively whitens the teeth.
Considerations for Children and Adolescents
Avoid eating large quantities of foods high in sugar (such as candy) and starches (such as breads, cereals, grains). These substances provide bacteria with nutrition that helps it create acids that are dangerous to the teeth. Avoid sticky foods that may lodge in between teeth. If you do eat sticky foods, brush and floss soon afterward. When you snack, eat foods such as raw vegetables and fruits.
Supplements
- Calcium: Teeth are primarily calcium. Supplement with 1,000 to 1,500 mg/day for healthy teeth and bones.[1]
- Phosphorus: Eight-five percent of the body's phosphorus is found in bones and teeth. Supplement with 200 to 400 mg/day. [2]
- Magnesium: helps hold calcium in tooth enamel. Supplement with 500 mg/day. [3]
Herbs
- Mint and cinnamon oils: Dental floss comes in mint and cinnamon flavors not only because they taste good but because mint and cinnamon oils are antibacterial antiseptics that help kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.
- Thyme oil: This antibacterial antiseptic is the active ingredient in the mouthwash Listerine.
- Bloodroot: This helps reduce dental plaque, according to several studies. An extract of it is found in Viadent mouthwash. [4]
- Tea: Tea is rich in tooth-preserving fluoride. [5]
- Goldenseal: This herb works as an antibacterial antiseptic. For a homemade mouthwash, add one to two eyedroppers of tincture of goldenseal to water [6]
Last updated October 1999.
Sources
[1][2][3]Lieberman. S. and N. Bruning. The Real Vitamin and Mineral Book. Garden City, NY: Avery, 1997
[4][5][6] Duke, J. The Green Pharmacy. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1997. Castleman, M. The Healing Herbs. Bantam. 1995.
Preventing Dental Plaque
Decreasing your sugar intake will reduce the amount of acid the bacteria in your mouth produces and thus decrease tooth decay and plaque. Snacking on fruits and vegetables will cause bacteria to produce less acid -- and fewer problems. You can also do the following:
- Brush thoroughly at least twice a day (morning and night). You should spend at least several minutes brushing your teeth.
- Floss at least once a day.
- If you have significant spaces between some of your teeth, use a proxabrush (a slim, specially designed brush that slips between teeth) to clean these areas.
- Don't smoke. Smoking stains the tooth enamel and increases your risk of periodontal disease and oral cancer.
Additional Preventive Measures
The steps for preventing plaque are also the measures for treating it. Furthermore, prevention and treatment of plaque are simple and highly effective.
Brushing: Brush well at least twice a day. If you can brush after meals, that's even better. Here are some pointers for better brushing:
- Use your brush at a 45? angle against the gums.
- Use short, gentle, back-and-forth strokes.
- Brush all of the surfaces of the teeth (the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces).
- Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth using a gentle up-and-down motion.
- Brush your tongue (bacteria lives there, too).
- Children have more trouble using a toothbrush than adults. An electric toothbrush, when used properly, is more effective in removing plaque in children than a regular toothbrush. Also, children should use only a very small amount of flouride toothpaste, since they tend to swallow rather than spit.
Flossing: Floss at least once a day. There is no substitute for this activity -- it is the only way to get food and particles out from between the teeth.
Regular dental visits: See your dentist at least once a year so he or she can remove deposits of hardened plaque. Your dentist can also tell you about the health of your teeth and gums, and keep you up-to-date on new treatments.
When to Call the Dentist
Consult your dentist if:
- You have tooth pain
- You have persistent bad breath
- Your gums easily and frequently bleed
- You have not had your teeth examined in the last year
Websites & Organizations
AAPHD National Office and Business Office of The Journal of Public Health Dentistry
3760 SW Lyle Court
Portland, OR 97221
Academy of General Dentistry
Suite 1200, 211 E. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
211 E. Chicago Ave., Suite 700
Chicago, IL 60611-2616
Phone: 312-337-2169
Fax: 312-337-6329
American Dental Association
211 E. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-440-2500
Fax: 312-440-2800
American Dental Hygienists' Association
444 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3400
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-440-8900
Email: mail@adha.net
California Dental Hygienists' Association
660 J Street, Suite 480
Sacramento, CA 95814
Email: info@cdha.org
National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health
2000 15th Street, North, Suite 701
Arlington, VA 22201-2617
Phone: 703-524-7802
Fax: 703-524-9335
Email: info@ncemch.org
National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse
1 NOHIC Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3500
Phone: 301-402-7364
Fax: 301-907-8830
TTY: 301-656-7581
Email: nidr@aerie.com
Tooth.Net
Phone: 800-483-3748
Email: moreinfo@dds4u.com
Sources for This Article
Books
Fauci, Anthony J., et. al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, eds. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998.
Hardman, Joel G. and Limbird, Lee E. Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics eds. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996.
Murray, Michael T. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Prima, 1998.
Noble, John. Primary Care Medicine ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 1996.
Physicians' Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Co., 1998.
Articles
Akpata, ES. "The Measurement of Dental Plaque." Odontostomatol Trop. 11(7):57-64. Aug 1979.
Axelsson, P. "Current Role of Pharmaceuticals in Prevention of Caries and Periodontal Disease." Int Dent J. 43(5):473-82. Oct 1993.
DuPont, GA. "Understanding Dental Plaque: Biofilm Dynamics." J Vet Dent. 14(3):91-4. Sep 1997.
Hull, PS, Glenwright, HD, Hillam, DG. "Dental Plaque and Its Control. Part 1. What Plaque Is and How It Forms." Br Dent Surg Assist. 36(1):6-7. Jan-Feb 1977.
Kleinberg, I. "Oral Effects of Sugars and Sweeteners." Int Dent J. 35(3):180-9. Sep 1985.
Marsh, PD, Bradshaw, DJ. "Dental Plaque as a Biofilm." J Ind Microbiol. 15(3):169-75. Sep 1995.
Scheie, AA. "Mechanisms of Dental Plaque Formation." Adv Dent Res. 8(2):246-53. Jul 1994.
Tatevossian, A. "Facts and Artefacts in Research on Human Dental Plaque Fluid." J Dent Res. 69(6):1309-15. Jun 1990.
Tsamtsouris, A, White, GE, Clark, E. "The Effect of Instruction and Supervised Toothbrushing on the Reduction of Dental Plaque in Kindergarten Children." ASDC J Dent Child. 46(3):204-9. May-Jun 1979.
"Composition and Metabolic Activity of Dental Plaque from Healthy Young and Elderly Individuals." J Dent Res. 59(5):771-6. May 1980.
Lieberman. S. and N. Bruning. The Real Vitamin and Mineral Book. Avery, Garden City, NY. 1997
Duke, J. The Green Pharmacy. Rodale, Emmaus, PA, 1997.
Castleman, M. The Healing Herbs. Bantam. 1995.