What is the buildup of bacteria on the tooth called?

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Study for the Veterinary Dentistry – Dental Diseases Exam. Use flashcards, quizzes, and detailed explanations to enhance your knowledge. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is the buildup of bacteria on the tooth called?

Explanation:
Plaque is the soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on the tooth surface. It develops as bacteria in the mouth adhere to the acquired pellicle that coats enamel and produce a protective matrix, creating a biofilm. If this plaque isn’t regularly removed, it can mineralize and become calculus (tartar), which is a hard deposit that’s more difficult to clean. The other terms describe related issues but not the actual buildup: halitosis is bad breath caused by bacterial activity, gingivitis is inflammation of the gums often driven by plaque, and calculus is the mineralized form of plaque. So the buildup of bacteria on the tooth is plaque.

Plaque is the soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on the tooth surface. It develops as bacteria in the mouth adhere to the acquired pellicle that coats enamel and produce a protective matrix, creating a biofilm. If this plaque isn’t regularly removed, it can mineralize and become calculus (tartar), which is a hard deposit that’s more difficult to clean. The other terms describe related issues but not the actual buildup: halitosis is bad breath caused by bacterial activity, gingivitis is inflammation of the gums often driven by plaque, and calculus is the mineralized form of plaque. So the buildup of bacteria on the tooth is plaque.

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