Plaque is probably the biggest cause of tooth decay and eventual loss. What is it - how do we acquire it - and how do we control it?

Plaque is the sticky, practically colorless film that builds continuously on the teeth. The main inhabitants of plaque are bacteria - one milligram of plaque can contain a half-billion bacteria. Bacteria ferment sugars in the mouth (why not to eat sweets), changing them to acids which then eat away at tooth enamel. Look, Ma - no cavities. As the plaque creeps below the gum line, it mineralizes and becomes razor-sharp deposits of tartar which is the catalyst of periodontal (or gum) disease - by far, the major cause of tooth loss in adults. Plaque must be removed daily by proper brushing and the use of dental floss. Have your dentist or hygienist show you how to do it properly. The best way, if not the only way, to remove tartar and long-established plaque is to have a professional cleaning. But, remember, it will start to reform the very next day. The only one who can remove plaque regularly is you.