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Bacterial plaque: meaning, definitions and examples

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bacterial plaque

[ bækˈtɪəriəl plæk ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

oral hygiene

A sticky film that forms on teeth, consisting of bacteria and their byproducts. Bacterial plaque can lead to tooth decay and gum disease if not removed through regular brushing and flossing.

Synonyms

dental plaque, oral biofilm.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
bacterial plaque	Suitable for scientific or medical discussions when referring to the thin, sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and other surfaces in the mouth. Often used in professional settings. The dentist explained that bacterial plaque is a major cause of cavities and gum disease. Researchers are studying how to effectively eliminate bacterial plaque to improve oral health.
dental plaque	Commonly used in everyday conversations and general contexts when talking about the film of bacteria on teeth. It's a more generally understood term for people without a scientific background. It's important to brush your teeth twice a day to remove dental plaque. He visited the dentist to get his dental plaque cleaned.
oral biofilm	Best for very technical or scientific discussions, often used in research contexts when describing the complex community of microorganisms on oral surfaces. The study focused on the composition and behavior of the oral biofilm in patients with gum disease. Oral biofilm resilience makes it hard to treat with standard oral hygiene methods.

Word

Description / Examples

bacterial plaque

Suitable for scientific or medical discussions when referring to the thin, sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and other surfaces in the mouth. Often used in professional settings.

The dentist explained that bacterial plaque is a major cause of cavities and gum disease.
Researchers are studying how to effectively eliminate bacterial plaque to improve oral health.

dental plaque

Commonly used in everyday conversations and general contexts when talking about the film of bacteria on teeth. It's a more generally understood term for people without a scientific background.

It's important to brush your teeth twice a day to remove dental plaque.
He visited the dentist to get his dental plaque cleaned.

oral biofilm

Best for very technical or scientific discussions, often used in research contexts when describing the complex community of microorganisms on oral surfaces.

The study focused on the composition and behavior of the oral biofilm in patients with gum disease.
Oral biofilm resilience makes it hard to treat with standard oral hygiene methods.

Examples of usage

Bacterial plaque can be easily removed by brushing your teeth twice a day.
Regular dental cleanings are important to remove any bacterial plaque buildup.
If left untreated, bacterial plaque can harden into tartar, which is difficult to remove.

Translations

Translations of the word "bacterial plaque" in other languages:

🇵🇹 placa bacteriana

🇮🇳 जीवाणु पट्टिका

🇩🇪 bakterielle Plaque

🇮🇩 plak bakteri

🇺🇦 бактеріальний наліт

🇵🇱 płytka bakteryjna

🇯🇵 細菌性プラーク

🇫🇷 plaque bactérienne

🇪🇸 placa bacteriana

🇹🇷 bakteriyel plak

🇰🇷 세균 플라크

🇸🇦 اللويحة الجرثومية

🇨🇿 bakteriální plak

🇸🇰 bakteriálny plak

🇨🇳 细菌斑块

🇸🇮 bakterijska obloga

🇮🇸 bakteríuplakki

🇰🇿 бактериалды тақта

🇬🇪 ბაქტერიული ნალექი

🇦🇿 bakterial lövhə

🇲🇽 placa bacteriana

Etymology

The term 'bacterial plaque' was first introduced by Dr. Willoughby D. Miller in the late 19th century. He discovered that this sticky film on teeth was responsible for dental decay and disease. Since then, research has shown the importance of proper oral hygiene in preventing bacterial plaque buildup and maintaining oral health.