Dental plaque, also known as tooth plaque, microbial plaque and dental biofilm, is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth. Plaque is an extremely sticky, colorless to pale yellow deposit of biofilm that regularly forms on your teeth. When saliva, food, and fluids combine they produce bacteria deposits, which collect where the teeth and gums meet. Plaque contains bacteria, which produce acids that attack your tooth enamel and can damage your gums. If not treated, the damage could become permanent.  It contains millions of bacteria that feed on the food and drinks you eat

What Causes Plaque and Why Is It Harmful?

Plaque develops when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches), such as milk, soft drinks, raisins, cakes, or candy are frequently left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth thrive on these foods, producing acids as a result. Over a period of time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay. Plaque can also develop on the tooth roots under the gum and cause breakdown of the bone supporting the tooth.

So why is plaque a problem?

If you don’t take the steps needed to prevent and get rid of plaque, it may lead to:-

Cavities: the acids produced by the bacteria in plaque can cause low pH level and can eat away at your tooth enamel.

Gingivitis: Accumulation of plaque bacteria can cause inflammation of the gums.

Bad Breath: Plaque buildup from poor dental hygiene can also cause your breath to smell bad.

How to prevent tooth plaque:-

•  Visit your dentist every 6 months. Adults who see their dentists regularly are less likely to have plaque related dental diseases.
• Floss daily to remove food particles and plaque between teeth. To prevent the buildup of plaque, be sure to floss once a day  and brush your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste.
• If you have electric toothbrush, and remember to replace the head every 3 months. Use a quality toothbrush, or as soon as the bristles look worn.
• Avoid smoking to reduce the risk of increased plaque and tartar.
• Use a mouthwash such as Multi-Protection Mouthwash to help prevent plaque buildup on teeth to your routine against plaque and gingivitis.

What Is a Dental Cyst?

A dental cyst is very much like a closed sack. What is inside the sack can differ from patient to patient. Some cysts are comprised of air, some of soft tissue, and others are filled with fluid that can build up next to and around teeth. A dental cyst left to grow without treatment can lead to severe problems for your oral health.

Where Are Cysts Found?

There are various types of dental cysts.

Periapical cyst:-These cysts form at the root tip, and are typically caused by trauma, a crack in the tooth, or decay that has infected or killed the nerve (pulp) of the tooth.

Dentigerous Cysts: These cysts grow around unerupted or partially-erupted teeth, particularly wisdom teeth.

Keratocysts: These cysts typically form due to trauma or genetics. These cysts are aggressive and exhibit a high rate of recurrence, even after surgical removal.
Periodontal Cysts: These types of cysts are caused by advanced periodontal or gum disease, and thus are bacterial in nature.

Potential Oral Health Problems

A cyst left to grow can create unwanted pressure on teeth that can have the opposite effect on your smile. For example, a worsening cyst can eventually affect your bite by moving teeth, change the way you chew and digest food, and weaken the jawbone. In extreme cases of undetected cysts, the jawbone can actually be put at risk for fracture, among other complications.

Furthermore, a dental cyst can become infected and can eventually develop into an abscess, or pus-filled sack, which can spread the bacterial infection throughout your body.

Now that we have determined that cysts are bad, how will your dentist treat the cyst found in your mouth?

How to Treat Dental Cysts

The dental cyst will first require a thorough examination by your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon. The type of treatment used will depend on the type of cyst as well as where it’s located.

A cyst that forms on the root of a tooth might require endodontic or root canal treatment in order for the cyst to begin the healing process.

Leukoedema is the normal anatomic variant of the oral mucosa which has clinical appearance similar to potentially malignant white lesions such as leukoplakia and lichen planus. Other lesions which closely mimic leukoedema are white sponge nevus and cheek bite.

Leukoedema is a harmless white lesion of the oral cavity which mimics premalignant lesion more so when it is associated with smoking.

Signs and symptoms

There is a diffuse, gray-white, milky opalescent appearance of the mucosa which usually occurs bilaterally on the buccal mucosa. The surface of the area is folded, creating a wrinkled, white streaked lesion. Apart from the appearance, the lesion is entirely asymptomatic.

Causes

The cause is unknown, but it is thought to be caused by intracellular edema of the superficial epithelial cells coupled with retention of superficial parakeratin. Although leukoedema is thought to be a developmental condition, it may be more common and more pronounced in smokers, and becomes less noticeable when smoking is stopped. Smoking cannabis is known to be linked to this condition. It may also develop in areas subjected to repeat subclinical irritation, caused by low grade irritants such as spices, oral debris or tobacco.

Diagnosis

Clinically

Treatment

No treatment is required for leukoedema.

Mouth ulcers are painful areas in the mouth and gums.

While mostly harmless, mouth ulcers can be extremely uncomfortable and make it difficult for some people to eat, drink, and brush their teeth.

Mouth ulcers range in size, and the exact symptoms of the mouth ulcer will depend on what type of ulcer a person has.

Fast facts on mouth ulcers:

• Most mouth ulcers are recurring
•  Acidic foods can aggravate mouth ulcers.
• It is important to note that a doctor or dentist should examine any new ulcer and any ulcer lasting longer than 3 weeks.
• For most people, mouth ulcers will clear up within 2 weeks.

Causes

The exact cause of mouth ulcers is still not known and varies from person-to-person. Still, there are some common causes and several factors that may aggravate mouth ulcers, including the following:

• Biting the tongue or inside of the cheek
• Braces, poor-fitting dentures, and other apparatus that may rub against the mouth and gums
• A deficient filling
• Stress or anxiety
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy, puberty, and menopause
• Medications including bit-blockers and pain killers
• genetic factors

Symptoms of minor and major ulcers include:

• one or more painful sores that may appear on the cheeks, the roof of the mouth, or the tongue
• the appearance of round lesions that have red edges and are yellow, white, or gray in the middle

During more extreme outbreaks of mouth ulcers, some people may experience fever, sluggishness, and swollen glands.

Treatment

In many cases, the pain and discomfort from mouth ulcers will lessen in a few days and then disappear in about 2 weeks with no need for treatment.

For people with much more painful or frequent recurrence of mouth ulcers, a dentist may prescribe a solution to reduce swelling and lessen pain.

Also, a dentist may prescribe an antimicrobial mouthwash or an ointment to be applied directly to the infected patch. This can help to ease discomfort. Various mouth ulcer treatments are also available to purchase

• Avoid spicy and sour foods until the ulcers heal.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Regularly rinse your mouth out with warm, slightly salted water.
• Keep your mouth clean.
• Use an alcohol-free medicated mouthwash
• Use a topical steroid mouthwash or ointment – generally prescribed by your dentist or oral medicine specialist.

Leukoplakia is a reaction to a chronic irritation, like rough teeth, badly fitting dentures, smoking, and smokeless tobacco. It can show up as white patches or plaques in the mouth, is usually painless, and can’t be scraped off. Leukoplakia can also be a precancerous condition. Persistent patches or other changes in your mouth. Mild leukoplakia is usually harmless and generally goes away on its own. More serious cases may be linked to oral cancer.

Symptoms of Leukoplakia:-

This condition is marked by unusual looking patches inside the mouth. These patches can vary in appearance. Generally, patches resulting from leukoplakia have the following features:

• white or grey color
• thick, hard, and raised surface
• hairy (hairy leukoplakia only)

Rarely, the patches have red spots. Redness may be a sign of cancer.                           Leukoplakia most often occurs on the tongue. However, cheeks and gums are also vulnerable. The patches may take several weeks to develop, but they are rarely painful.      Causes:­-Smoking is the most common cause. Chewing tobacco can also cause leukoplakia. Biting the cheek, rough uneven teeth  and dentures (especially if improperly fitted).   

What Causes Leukoplakia?

• Irritation from rough teeth, fillings, or crowns, or ill-fitting dentures that rub against your cheek or gum
• Chronic smoking, pipe smoking, or other tobacco use
• Sun exposure to the lips
• Oral cancer (although rare)
• HIV or AIDS

What Are the Symptoms of Leukoplakia?

The presence of white or gray colored patches on your tongue, gums, roof of your mouth, or the inside of the cheeks of your mouth may be a sign of leukoplakia. The patch may have developed slowly over weeks to months and be thick, slightly raised, and may eventually take on a hardened and rough texture. It usually is painless, but may be sensitive to touch, heat, spicy foods, or other irritation.

How Is Leukoplakia Diagnosed?

Your dentist may suspect leukoplakia upon examination; however, a biopsy will likely be taken to rule out other causes, such as oral cancer. During the biopsy, a small piece of tissue from the lesion will be removed to be examined in a lab. A numbing agent will be used so that you will not feel any pain.

Treatment for Leukoplakia?

Treatment for leukoplakia, if needed, involves removing the source of irritation.

For example, if leukoplakia is caused by a rough tooth or an irregular surface on a denture or a filling, the tooth will be smoothed and dental appliances repaired.

If leukoplakia is caused by smoking, you will be asked to minimize or stop smoking or using other tobacco products.

A Dental implant is a titanium post (like a tooth root) that is surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath the gum line that allows your dentist to mount replacement teeth.

A Dental bridge is a false tooth that is held in place by the adjacent teeth on either side of the gap. Although artificial tooth  can be made from a variety of materials such as gold, typically they’re made from porcelain to aesthetically blend in with your natural teeth.

Dentures are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, and are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Dentures are replacements for missing teeth that can be taken out and put back into your mouth.There are two main types of dentures: full and partial.