Plaque is a soft whitish film that clings to the teeth. It is composed of billions of bacteria that feed on sugars in the mouth. Plaque is responsible for causing cavities and gum disease.
Many of the foods that you eat cause the bacteria in your mouth to produce acids. Sugary foods, such as sweets and biscuits, are not the only culprits. Starches, such as bread, crackers, and cereal, also cause acids to form. Even one small intake of sugar will cause acid production that will attack the teeth for approximately 40-50 minutes. Have another intake (even one mouthful of a soft drink) and they will dissolve for a further 40-50minutes. It is not the amount of sugary snack that is important, it is the frequency of the intakes that you have. If you snack often, your teeth could be dissolving all day long. After many acid attacks, your teeth will decay.
Plaque also produces substances that irritate the gums making them red, tender or causing them to bleed easily. After a while gums may pull away from the teeth. Pockets form and fill with more bacteria and pus. If the gums are not treated the bone around the teeth can be destroyed. The teeth may become loose and have to be removed. In fact, more teeth are lost through gum disease than decay in adults.
