Dental plaque is a coating formed with saliva and food debris found on the surface of teeth. It is a mat and firm white yellowish gel, similar to glue.
It also is an assorted microbial population developing the most where food debris remain, making use of them for their metabolisms.
Dental plaque develops rapidly after a meal (a few hours without cleaning) and it can't be removed by a simple water rinsing.
This deposit unbalances the oral ecosystem and makes it easier for pathologies to develop in the mouth.
It is responsible for cavities, and is also considered as the starting point of periodontal illness.
Dental plaque is an irritant and often causes gingivitis's.
The organic element of dental plaque facilitates the shaping of ungraceful dental stains and could also be the cause of bad breath.

First, a pellicle originating from the saliva's mucins builds on the clean teeth.
Certain bacteria can hold on to sluggish surfaces, as onto the tooth enamel.
It is then colonized by mutant streptococcus andneisseria.
These bacteria or microorganisms multiply to produce micro-colonies, forming the biofilm.
Plaque keeps on spreading.
During the first 7 days, streptococcus are dominant, but then other bacterial species (shell shaped, grape shaped, chain shaped or filament shaped) will begin to appear.
After 14 days, dental plaque has matured up. Once it has reached a certain thickness, the coating gets soaked with calcium crystals originating from saliva or connective tissues' liquids. It calcifies and becomes calculus.