Dental plaque is the white stuff that collects on our teeth, most often in the spots that the toothbrush doesn't quite reach. It's a homegrown version of biofilm -- mobs of microorganisms that clump up and encase themselves in largish sugar molecules so they are fairly impenetrable. In biology, there's often strength in numbers.
As a biofilm, dental plaque, which can harden into tartar, may not be all bad. It can create a barrier to some potentially harmful bacteria. But much of the time, that benefit is canceled out by other bacteria in the plaque that may inflame gum tissue (gingivitis) and the underlying tissues that hold our teeth in place (periodontitis).
The trouble may not be limited to the mouth. A number of studies have linked gum disease to heart disease. Inflammatory factors, or even the bacteria themselves, may get into the bloodstream and make their way to the coronary arteries or the heart.
Dental plaque and gum disease have also been linked to pneumonia -- especially in people breathing with the help of a ventilator. Between 10 percent and 25 percent of patients on ventilators come down with pneumonia. When the ventilator pushes air into the patient's lung, the bacteria may get swept along with it. Once in the lungs, the bacteria grow and cause the inflammation that's characteristic of pneumonia.
Full Article:
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=83061
