The challenge of dental plaque for teeth

When you wake up in the morning next time after a night’s sleep, gently run your tongue over your teeth and try to observe the grainy feeling. That is the dental plaque. It is an oral biofilm (complex matrix) consisting of water, multiple different species of microorganisms (mainly bacteria), organic and inorganic salivary components, and some food debris. The idea is to control the quantity and rate of plaque formation and not necessarily prevent it absolutely, because as long as eating and drinking is happening, formation of cariogenic plaque is inevitable. And we are well aware of how eating and drinking is essential for running the human machine; it is not really optional.

Explanation:

Within minutes after cleaning teeth, the proteins and glycoproteins in the saliva help in the formation of a pellicle on the tooth surface – imagine this to be a protective film of sorts. As it acts as a first line of shield for us, it also acts as a base for the microorganisms, particularly bacteria. Through sheer physical forces, bacteria loosely attach themselves to this pellicle. They strengthen that attachment by their inherent adhesin molecules and are able to act as the primary colonisers, mostly streptococci and actinomyces. This allows other microorganisms to adhere to the primary ones. As a result, proliferation begins, microbial colonies are formed, biofilm occurs and then matures. At this stage, the oxygen and nutrient levels in the film are low and hardly available. The film is loaded and continues to attract more harmful and anaerobic bacteria (the ones that don’t need oxygen to function). Now, as soon as any food or drink goes into the mouth, it’s not just you that is devouring it, but all those vast colonies of microscopic organisms in the biofilm do too. Due to sheer size and dominance, you are just the largest recipient of those foods. They just don’t pay money for it, like we do.

Just like how we convert food into fuel to run our body, by acquiring essential nutrients and shitting out the non-essential bits, similarly, they do too. Bacteria thrive on sugars and carbohydrates from foods, take what they want for their survival operations, and shit out lactic acid. Unfortunately, this lactic acid is not the most beneficial for us, as it puts our oral cavity in an acidic state, lowers the pH, and enables demineralisation- meaning teeth will start losing minerals, the very essence of its make. Fortunately though, our saliva has the ability to remineralise. Cavity begins to occur when demineralisation happens more than remineralisation.  

Controlling the quantity and rate of plaque formation:

• Brush your teeth regularly, at least once a day. This efficient process allows for mechanical removal of plaque.

• Rinse your mouth with water after each meal and drink, as it gets rid of tiny food particles stuck in teeth. As a result, there is not much food for the microorganisms to binge on. Additionally, water takes the oral cavity into a neutral or alkaline state.

• Drink water regularly throughout the day. Swirl it around the mouth if you can. What this does is it really keeps breaking and disturbing the harmful, plaque-generation-motivated bacterial operations and also keeps the oral cavity in an alkaline state or closer to neutral state. Additionally, its helps in production of saliva.

• Self-impose a ban or avoid all types of processed foods. They have low nutrients and high sugar, which is ideal for the “opponents” here.

• Eat crunchy fruits and vegetables in between meal times, as their chewing in the mouth avoids bacterial plaque operations, reduces the already built-up plaque and most importantly helps in stimulating saliva secretion.