Plaque is the diverse community of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, which develops naturally on the surface of teeth. The microbes are cocooned in a network of sugary polymers produced by the bacteria, and by host products, such as saliva, epithelial...

Dental plaque is biofilm (usually of a clear color) that builds up on the teeth. If not removed regularly, it can lead to dental cavities (caries) or periodontal problems (such as gingivitis). The microorganisms that form the biofilm are almost entirely...

When a horse trader looks into the horse's mouth he's really inspecting the length of teeth to figure out the horse's age. The shorter the teeth the older the horse, nature's mute testimony to the daily rations the animal has chomped on during...

NEW YORK -- There's gold in consumers' mouths for suppliers that tap into the rapidly growing plaque remover business. Year-to-date sales of electric toothbrushes -- or plaque removers, as the industry has dubbed the new generation of devices -- show double-digit increases over...

Think of germs as gangsters. One thug lurking on a corner you might outrun, but a dozen swaggering down the street? Yikes.Bacteria make their own gangs, clustering quietly in the body until there's a large enough group to begin an attack. This is the next...

Think of germs as gangsters. One thug lurking on a corner you might outrun, but a dozen swaggering down the street? Yikes. Bacteria make their own gangs, clustering quietly in the body until there's a large enough group to begin an attack. This is the...