Dental plaques are huge accumulations of microbes that are fixed on the enamel of one or several teeth at once. Bacteria in the oral cavity can provoke the appearance of an acidic environment. It is under the influence of such factors that the enamel begins to be damaged in a short time and become unusable, which leads to partial or even complete destruction of the teeth.
What do plaques look like?
The formation of dental plaques on enamel is represented by dark or light plaque. They negatively affect the general condition of the teeth and may result in their loss.
This condition is primarily due to the fact that a huge amount of pathogenic microorganisms and their metabolic products accumulated in the oral cavity at this time.
The mechanism of formation of dental plaque
Most often, such formations form on the posterior walls of the teeth. A negative effect as a result leads to demineralization and the formation of caries.
Most exposed to plaque from plaque fissures and blind fossa. Plaque can also spread over smooth parts, which during motor activity come into contact with the root surface. Large accumulations of parasites are formed most often in areas where it is difficult to fully clean.
The composition of plaques and the features of their structure
An important fact is that such formations do not include food residues in their composition and are re-formed after a few hours after brushing your teeth.
Plaque is largely composed of germs. In a new layer there is a large number of them, while they form a soft, sticky and transparent coating.
The composition of the dental plaque is as follows: half of all the pathogens on the plaque are streptococci, 30 percent are diphtheroids, and the other 20 percent are evenly divided between bacteroids, fusobacteria, vibrios, neysseria and veylonella.
Causes of pathogenic microflora
The main reasons for the formation of pathogenic microflora in the oral cavity, favorable for the deposition of dental plaques, include:
- a decrease in the overall resistance of the human body, as well as specific characteristics of the immune system;
- the use of excessive amounts of sugar, confectionery and other sweets;
- irregular brushing of teeth, as well as non-compliance with hygiene rules;
- too much saliva, as well as its incorrect composition.
Plaque can spread both to individual teeth, and to a number of. Diseases of this nature are considered salivary. Plaques form due to the accumulation of certain minerals. They enter the oral cavity together with saliva and food.
If dental plaques cover the entire chewing surface of the molar, then its color changes greatly, and the structure is deformed as a result.
What are the signs of a plaque?
It is possible to determine the presence of symptoms of accumulation of pathogenic deposits with the help of external manifestations. At the first stage of its development, the formation affects the surface of the tooth itself over the edge of the gum.
Most often, the plaque is painted in white or beige. According to its consistency, it can be both plastic and solid. The color of plaque from tooth plaque will directly depend on the amount of coffee, strong tea, and tobacco consumed.
Experts were able to identify a certain dependence - pathological deposits on light-colored teeth, as a rule, have a softer consistency, while they form much faster than hard ones and can accumulate in large quantities.
Dark deposits in density can be compared to stone, but they form on the human tooth for a long time and in a small volume, when compared with light.
Stages of formation
The timing of the formation of mature dental plaque can be different and depend on provoking factors. The speed of occurrence and localization of plaque will directly depend on the individual characteristics of a person, as well as on the quality of oral hygiene.
The stages of dental plaque formation are as follows:
- In the beginning, the development of the primary pellicle is observed, which extends to the entire surface of the tooth or only to its separate part.
- The second stage is primary microbiological seeding.
- The third step is fixing on the surface of the molars.
Ways to identify ailment
A professional dentist must be able to distinguish a plaque from other varieties of tartar. Accurate information can be obtained by a comprehensive examination of the patient's oral cavity, as well as the identification of the etiotropic pathogen.
Diagnostic measures are carried out in laboratory conditions. They help doctors to make the final diagnosis with high accuracy and decide on a more effective method of treatment and restoration of the oral cavity.
In modern medicine, the following methods are used to diagnose inflammatory and pathogenic processes in the oral cavity:
- a full examination of microflora;
- examination of the state of human immune defense;
- biochemical analysis;
- cytological examination.
The effectiveness of the treatment of dental plaque will directly depend on the precise identification of the pathogen. Sometimes, specialized dyes are used in the diagnosis, which help determine the cause of plaque and its active spread over the surface of the teeth.
To identify the quality of microflora and search for pathogenic pathogens, oral microscopy may be required. To assess the overall prevalence of plaque, you need to use the standard microbiological culture of a selective or non-selective medium.
After that, a direct count of all found microbial colonies in the oral cavity is carried out.
How is plaque treated?
When removing plaque that has accumulated on the surface of the teeth, dentists use special dental devices. Although a good cleaning effect can be achieved at home.
Removal at the clinic
Removal of dental plaque is first performed on the distal portion of the teeth. After that, the specialists move slowly, moving towards the front teeth.
If the removal is carried out qualitatively, and the patient fulfills all the basic tips and rules of the treating specialist, then soon all the plaques will pass and the microflora in the oral cavity will normalize.
The quality of treatment will directly depend on the professionalism of the dentist. The whole procedure is divided into the following steps:
- Removal. Complete cleaning of the surface of the teeth from the formation of hard and soft consistency, which managed to accumulate in the periodontal and gingival canals.
- Treatment. To prevent re-formation of plaques, you should cover all cleaned surfaces and cavities on the tooth with specialized antibacterial drugs. If the cleaning is carried out in the clinic, then the dentist does it.
Self treatment
Treatment at home in order to clean tooth enamel from plaques is carried out by rinsing the oral cavity with special dental solutions.
Also, a fairly good effect can be achieved by applying compresses of hydrogen peroxide and cotton wool. But it is important to remember that this tool not only eliminates plaques, but can also lead to enamel deformation and no less dangerous consequences.
If treatment of the disease at home does not bring any positive effect, then it is important to immediately go to the doctor. It is forbidden to delay in such a situation, as this can only aggravate the situation, and this is fraught with loss of teeth.
Possible complications with this pathology
Tooth plaque is not only an aesthetic problem, but also a disease that can lead to tooth decay. This may be the main cause of partial or complete tooth deformation.
Also, a similar condition threatens the appearance of periodontal disease and other gum diseases. As you know, this situation quite often provokes the loss of healthy teeth.
This can be explained by the fact that pathological residues squeeze the edge of the gums, which provokes the development of the inflammatory process. Such problems most often have to be treated surgically and with prosthetics.
What are the ways to prevent the disease?
Preventive measures will be to follow the basic rules of oral hygiene. Dentists claim that it is the constant cleaning of the oral cavity after eating that becomes a reliable method that helps to significantly reduce the risk of this type of disease. When using good toothpastes and brushes, you can eliminate all the accumulated plaque even before it has time to turn into a plaque.
The basic rules of cleaning, which will help significantly reduce the risk of complications, include:
- the use of medium hard brushes with a small head;
- the use of toothpastes that contain fluoride;
- thorough cleaning of the oral cavity (twice a day for five minutes);
- the use of special balms that will help dissolve the formed plaque;
- the use of threads for deep cleaning of crevices formed between the teeth;
- the brush should be changed every two to three months, since it is after this time that the previous ones become unusable.
For young children, as well as people who have some difficulties with mobility of hands, it is best to use electric brushes. They have a built-in rotating and moving mechanism, which provides high-quality and complete cleaning.
Tooth plaques are not just plaque that can be removed during the day with a simple brush and toothpaste. This is a rather dangerous disease, which as a result causes serious diseases of the oral cavity.