Dental Health Dental Health Basics

Fighting Back Against A Plaque Attack: Part 1

Summary & Participants

Since childhood you've learned that brushing and flossing should be part of your daily routine to prevent the buildup of plaque. Join us for a conversation with two dental experts as they talk about the mouth's archenemy and how to fight back against plaque.

Medically Reviewed On: July 05, 2008

Webcast Transcript

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Welcome to our webcast. I'm David Folk Thomas. Go grab your toothbrush. We're going to be talking about plaque prevention. Since childhood we've learned that brushing and flossing should be part of our daily routine to prevent plaque build-up, which can lead to cavities, gum disease and worse.

Today we're speaking to two dental experts about plaque. What is plaque? What kind of damage can it do to your teeth and gums? We'll also go over some of the best hygiene habits for preventing plaque damage. To my left is Dr. Graziano Giglio. He's the Associate Clinical Professor at the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics at New York University. He's also in private practice in New York specializing in aesthetics and implants. He's also told me to feel free to call him Graz, which I will take him up on that. Next to Graz, is Dr. Paul Kamen. He is the Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry at Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery. Paul is in private practice in Manhattan as well, specializing in periodontics and implants. Gentlemen, doctors, thank you for joining me today.

Graz, I'm going to want to say that a lot. Paul, that's a good name too. I've never called anybody Graz before. What is plaque?

GRAZIANO GIGLIO, DDS: Plaque is just an accumulation that you get on teeth, which is made up of bacteria and its byproducts.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Where does this accumulation come from? If I'm just minding my own business, am I going to get plaque? Is it just through food? Where does it come from?

PAUL KAMEN, DDS: Unfortunately yes. The plaque develops no matter what you do. People often ask me, "Well, what if I don't eat?" You still collect plaque. The plaque is just part of our environment and part of the oral environment.

It tends to collect unfortunately in the places that are the hardest for us to get to with our toothbrushes, namely the little crevice between the gum and the tooth and also the space just in-between the teeth, and again, in the little cracks and fissures on the biting service of the teeth.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Why is plaque bad? What happens?

GRAZIANO GIGLIO, DDS: It can cause two diseases -- periodontal disease and it can cause cavities.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Explain what those diseases are.

PAUL KAMEN, DDS: Periodontal disease is the disease of the tissues that surround and support the teeth. People think of periodontal disease as gum disease, which it is but it also and more importantly involves the bone that helps to support the teeth.

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