Dental plaque is a
biofilm or mass of bacteria that grows on surfaces within the mouth. It is a sticky colorless deposit at first, but when it forms tartar it is brown or pale yellow that is commonly found between the teeth, front of teeth, behind teeth, on chewing surface, along the gumline, and below the gumline
cervical margins. Dental plaque is also known as microbial plaque, oral biofilm, dental biofilm, dental plaque biofilm or bacterial plaque biofilm. While plaque is commonly associated with oral diseases such as
caries and
periodontal diseases (gum diseases), its formation is a normal process that cannot be prevented.