What is Plaque?

• Plaque is a film of biological organism made up almost completely of bacteria, including Streptococcus. This film of bacteria slowly starts to build layers on your teeth, causing dental problems and irritations.
  
  

How Plaque Affects Your Teeth

• As plaque is introduced to your teeth it slowly builds up deeper and deeper layers. The layers that are closest to the enamel of your teeth, being protected by its outer layers of plaque, slowly convert to anaerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration means that since the inner layers of plaque do not have access to oxygen, the plaque through anaerobic means can still gain energy through other sources to survive.
  
  A product of anaerobic respiration is acid. This acid can lead to breaking down the mineral of the tooth as well as irritating the gums, leading to gingivitis and gum disease.
  
  The buildup of plaque on your teeth can also have a visible effect on your smile when the plaque hardens and causes a calculus buildup otherwise known as tartar. This can then be dyed by the foods that we eat or habits like smoking, which can lead to yellow and brown teeth.
  
  

How to Prevent Plaque

• Preventing plaque is a rather simple process that just takes making its removal part of your daily hygienic routine. Brushing after each meal and before you go to bed at night is one important way to remove and prevent plaque, as is flossing daily and using a mouthwash to help kill the bacteria located both within plaque and in your mouth.