Plaque attack

Amazing Photos of Plaque Under a Scanning electron microscope (SEM).

They may look like rare plants or exotic landscapes but these fascinating images show the bacterial plaque that covers your teeth and other microorganisms living in your gumline and toothbrush as well as the decay caused by them. The pictures were taken with a microscope that scans a sample with a focused beam of electrons and are then coloured either digitally or by hand to distinguish different elements of the image. These works of art are a stark reminder of the consequences of poor dental hygiene.

Dental plaque - seen above with a magnification of x400 when printed at 10 centimetres wide - is a biofilm formed by colonising bacteria trying to attach themselves to the surface of a toothPicture: SPL / Barcroft Media

And that is what it looks like with a magnification of x10,000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

A human canine primary (milk) tooth. Most of a human tooth is formed by dentin, a substance that envelopes the pulp chamber containing the soft connective tissue - blood vessels and nerves. The crown of the tooth is then covered by enamel - seen above in white - a much stronger and highly mineralised substance that protects the dentin from the acids in the mouth. In the root of a tooth, a part that in a healthy mouth is not exposed to the same acids, the dentin is protected by a substance called cementum - seen in pink - that serves as a medium by which the periodontal ligaments can attach to the tooth for stability.Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

A freeze-fractured section through a tooth, showing the enamel-forming cell layer, in blue, the surface of the tooth, in yellow, and the dentin, in red. Loss of enamel or cementum exposes the dentin - a porous substance with microscopic channels, called dentinal tubules, that connects the pulp - causing sensibility.Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

In yellow, bacterial plaque on the surface of a tooth. The acid produced as waste during bacterias' digestive process demineralises the tooth creating cavities that will need fillings or may lead to tooth loss. Although levels of tooth decay have decreased over the last few decades, it is still one of the most widespread health problems in the UK.Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

If that doesn't convince you to floss every day... In yellow a large number of bacteria in the gingiva - gums - of a human mouth. Accumulation of bacterial plaque on gumline for lack of or ineffective flossing may cause gum diseases, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. The NHS estimates that up to 15% of adults in the UK suffer from periodontitis, with many more affected less severely.Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

The surface of a human tooth - in yellow - showing a carpet of spherical bacteria - in blue - and red blood cells Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

Bristles from a toothbrush. Bristles become frayed and worn with use, reducing effectiveness of the toothbrush. Toothbrushes should be replaced at least every three or four months. However they wear out differently according to patients' unique habits such as the strength applied during brushing or frequency; they should be replaced earlier if necessary Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

Bristles from a used toothbrush covered in dental plaque. Toothbrushes should be rinsed throughly after brushing to remove any toothpaste or debris and then allowed to air-dry in an upright position. Closed containers hold more moisture and are more conducive to the growth of microorganisms than open air.Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

Dental plaque on the bristles of a used toothbrush with a magnification of x750 when printed at 10 centimetres wide Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

Interdental brushes, as the one above, have small bristled heads specially designed to clean between your teeth. Your dentist might advise you to use an interdental brush according to your needs, however are no substitute for flossing. Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

A closer look at the bristles of a used interdental brush covered in dental plaque. Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

A human incisor with a cavity, or mineral loss caused by the acidic bacterial waste. In this case the decay has formed on the side of the tooth (between two teeth) and in the gumline (between the crown - in yellow - and the root), possibly for lack of flossing or incorrect technique. It's estimated that around one in every three adults in England have tooth decay and a survey of five year old children carried out in 2012 found that more than one in four had some degree of tooth decay.Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

The crown of a primary (milk) tooth. Its root has been dissolved in a process known as deciduous root resorption caused by the pressure exerted by an erupting permanent tooth.Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

Plaque-forming bacteria with a magnification of x1000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

Plaque-forming bacteria Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

Plaque-forming bacteria with a magnification of x8,000 when printed at 10 centimetres wide Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

Dental drills, like the one above, are used to remove soft tissue and bacteria from decayed areas in preparation for the cavity to receive a filling. Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

A dental pin, used to reinforce fillings and crowns when a large part of the tooth is decayed or missing Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

A close look at the tip of a dental drill Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

Calcium phosphate crystals which are used in dental materials for remineralisation of teeth following loss of minerals caused by bacterial acid Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

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cast Plaque attack

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