Close-up of a person's teeth showing dental plaque deposits revealed using a disclosing tablet, which stains plaque red. Plaque is a mixture of saliva


Close-up of a person's teeth showing dental plaque deposits revealed using a disclosing tablet, which stains plaque red. Plaque is a mixture of saliva, bacteria and carbohydrates that may build up on the teeth surfaces and around the gum margins as a result of inadequate oral hygiene. If allowed to build-up, plaque eventually forms a hard, calcareous deposit (tartar or calculus) which may invade the gingival spaces between the teeth & gums and cause gum disease (gingivitis) - a condition marked by swollen & bleeding gums. If untreated the disease spreads to and destroys the underlying periodontal membrane & alveolar bone, causing the teeth to loosen and drop out.


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Photo credit: © Science Photo Library / Alamy / Afripics
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Keywords: condition, dental, dentistry, detection, disclosed, disclosing, disorder, dye, healthcare, medical, medicine, odontology, oral, plaque, stain, tablet, teeth, test, testing