When it comes to caries and the cause of periodontitis, doctors will always mention one word: "dental plaque". So what is dental plaque and how does it form?

Plaque is a thin film on the surface of teeth that contains many bacteria. Its formation is roughly divided into three steps: first, the saliva in the mouth forms a film on the surface of the teeth (it forms very quickly, in a few minutes on freshly cleaned teeth.); Various bacteria are adsorbed and arranged on this layer of film in an orderly manner; finally, bacteria gradually grow and multiply on this layer of saliva film, and the types and numbers of bacteria on the film gradually increase, turning into mature dental plaque.

The bacteria in the dental plaque is different from the single bacteria in the mouth. With the unique structure of the dental plaque, various bacteria are tightly attached to the surface of the teeth and cannot be washed away by water or rinsed away, making it difficult to remove. At the same time, the connection between bacteria on the membrane is also very tight, which can resist the body's defense function and the killing effect of drugs, so as to survive in the oral cavity for a long time. With the gradual increase of harmful bacteria in the plaque, various diseases of the teeth and gums are caused.