plaque

Everyday

1. A soft, sticky film of germs (bacteria) that forms on your teeth and causes tooth decay and gum disease if not brushed away. tree →
2. A flat piece of metal, stone or wood with writing on it, fixed to a wall to remember a person or event, or given as a prize. tree →
3. A fatty build-up inside blood vessels (in medicine). tree →

In the lessons

In health lessons, plaque is why you brush twice a day for two minutes and floss: sugar feeds the bacteria in plaque, which make acid that harms enamel. Disclosing tablets colour plaque so you can see it. In history and everyday life, blue plaques on houses show where famous people lived. Phrases: dental plaque, remove plaque, a blue plaque, a plaque on the wall.

Examples

• Brushing your teeth removes plaque. tree →
• Plaque is a sticky layer of germs on your teeth. tree →
• The pink tablet showed where plaque was hiding. tree →
• Sugary drinks help plaque make holes in your teeth. tree →
• A blue plaque says a famous writer lived in this house. tree →
• The team got a silver plaque for winning the cup. tree →
• There's a plaque on the bridge saying when it was built. tree →

Note

Pronounced PLAK (rhymes with «back»). Don't confuse with «plague» (a deadly disease) — one letter different. Plaque on teeth is soft and can be brushed off; if left, it hardens into tartar, which only a dentist can remove.