Dental plaque pH

Dental plaque pH refers to the **acidity or alkalinity of the biofilm (dental plaque) formed by microorganisms on teeth**. This parameter is crucial because a fall in plaque pH—typically below 5.5—promotes **demineralization of tooth enamel and the development of dental caries (tooth decay)**. The drop in pH is primarily due to acid production from bacterial fermentation of dietary carbohydrates, especially sugars[1][5]. Frequent or sustained low plaque pH selects for acid-tolerant, cariogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus species, disrupting the microbial homeostasis of the plaque community and facilitating caries development[1]. Plaque pH is not itself a molecular drug target, but is an important *environmental marker* and a measure of disease risk—**modulating plaque pH is a strategy in caries prevention**. Management includes dietary counseling to reduce fermentable sugar intake, mechanical removal of plaque, use of chemical plaque control agents (such as mouthwashes), and therapeutic products that buffer plaque pH or deliver fluoride to enhance enamel resistance[2]. Because "Plaque pH" is a physiological measurement and not a drug target, fields relating to canonical abbreviation, approved drugs, mechanism of action, direct safety/tolerability, and molecular classification as a receptor, enzyme, or transporter do not apply. The correct entity would be the **dental plaque biofilm** or specific microbial virulence factors (e.g., enzymes, adhesins) within it, rather than plaque pH per se. Thus, "Plaque pH" as a drug target is **incorrect**—it is a crucial physiological process but not a canonical molecular target for therapeutic intervention[1][2][3][5].

Other names

Plaque acidityOral biofilm pHDental biofilm pH

Not applicable