---
title: "What Is Biofilm? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Biofilm is a layer of bacteria that sticks together on a surface. In the mouth, dental plaque is a biofilm that can cause cavities and gum disease."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/biofilm
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Prevention and Hygiene

# Biofilm

Biofilm is a layer of bacteria that sticks together on a surface. In the mouth, dental plaque is a biofilm that can cause cavities and gum disease.

A biofilm is a community of bacteria that attach to a surface and live in a sticky layer. The plaque on your teeth is a biofilm. The ADA defines dental caries as a biofilm-mediated, sugar-driven, multifactorial disease. That means the bacteria, sugar in the diet, and other factors work together.

When sugars feed the bacteria in the biofilm, they make acid. The acid can break down enamel. The ADA says the balance of [remineralization](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/remineralization) and demineralization is also affected by saliva, fluoride, and what you eat.

Daily cleaning breaks up the biofilm. Brush twice a day with fluoride and clean between teeth. A professional [teeth cleaning](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/teeth-cleaning) removes [tartar](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/tartar-calculus) that home care cannot. See [plaque](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-plaque).

[Town Center Dental can helpTeeth Cleaning](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/teeth-cleaning)

## Related terms

-   [Dental plaque](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-plaque)
-   [Tartar (calculus)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/tartar-calculus)
-   [Remineralization](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/remineralization)
-   [Cavity (dental caries)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/cavity-dental-caries)
-   [Oral hygiene](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-hygiene)

## Sources

1.  [ADA: Caries Risk Assessment and Management](https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/caries-risk-assessment-and-management)
2.  [ADA MouthHealthy: Plaque](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/plaque)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)