Dental Hygiene, Microplastics and Dental Cavities?

Microplastics—tiny plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm—are found nearly everywhere in our environment, including the things we eat every day. Because your mouth is the first stop for food, drink and a lot of the air you inhale, it’s also a natural collection point.  

The same sticky biofilm (plaque) that traps bacteria can also trap environmental debris, and rough tooth surfaces or deep gum pockets make that capture more likely. Emerging research suggests microplastics can contact gum tissue and contribute to irritation and inflammation—especially where plaque and disease are already present.  

How do External Microplastics Get into the Mouth? 

Everyday exposures bring particles to the oral cavity. Airborne dust carries microplastics you can inhale or catch in saliva, while foods and beverages can introduce particles that ride along with a meal. Recent laboratory and pilot studies have shown that chewing gum can shed hundreds to thousands of microplastic pieces into saliva per piece during the first few minutes of chewing—one more, often surprising, exposure route. Those particles are then swallowed or can remain trapped in plaque until your next clean. 

You may remember “microbeads” in some toothpastes a few years back; those were banned in Canada (manufacture/import and, later, sale) starting in 2018–2019, so they’re no longer a source from mainstream products here. That’s a win for waterways—and one less plastic you’ll encounter during brushing—but it doesn’t remove other environmental sources like household dust, certain teabags and packaging that can shed micro- and nanoplastics. 

Why Do Cavities and Gum Pockets Trap Particles? 

Plaque is a sticky, structured biofilm; it loves texture. Cavities (carious lesions) create a porous, roughened surface where food debris, pigments and microscopic particles get a foothold. Once there, plaque can hold onto incoming microplastics just as it holds onto starches and sugars. Below the gum line, periodontal pockets develop when gums detach from teeth due to inflammation. These narrow, sheltered spaces are rich in plaque bacteria and are difficult to clean at home—prime geography for any particle that slips past the gum margin to simply sit and stew.  

Reviews on microplastics and periodontal disease point out that after entering the mouth, particles can physically contact and irritate gingival tissues and may amplify existing inflammation driven by plaque. That’s especially relevant in deeper pockets where oxygen is low, bacteria are aggressive and clearance is poor. 

The connection doesn’t mean microplastics cause gum disease; biofilm and host response are still the main players. But if you already have plaque retention (from tartar, a cavity rim or a deep pocket), incoming environmental particles can add one more irritant to the mix. Keeping those niches clean is the practical goal. 

Where Does Oral Microplastic Come From? 

Daily routines can concentrate particles in the mouth for a short time. That includes chewing gum (high initial release into saliva), sipping hot drinks made with certain plastic-containing teabags (documented to shed micro- and nanoplastics), or simply breathing indoor air where synthetic fibres accumulate.  

None of these single exposures has been proven to cause oral disease on its own, but they explain how particles arrive at the plaque front line, where they can linger until brushed or professionally removed. As research evolves, scientists are exploring whether chronic contact adds to oxidative stress and inflammatory signalling in oral tissues—one more reason to keep plaque light and pockets shallow.  

Where Dental Hygiene Makes the Difference 

Even with excellent habits, plaque mineralises into tartar in places your brush and floss miss—especially below the gum line. That’s where regular hygiene visits and, when needed, non-surgical gum therapy (deep cleaning) come in. Scaling and root planing remove hardened deposits from tooth surfaces above and below the gums and smooth the roots so plaque (and any environmental debris it captures) doesn’t re-adhere as easily.  

If pockets are stubborn, adjuncts like ultrasonic scalers or, in selected cases, laser therapy help disrupt biofilm and improve access. You can read how we approach deep cleanings on our Non-Surgical Gum Therapy page, and what to expect at a routine visit on our Dental Hygiene page.  

Patients often ask whether it’s “too late” if they already have bleeding gums or a sensitive cavity. It’s not. Treating decay eliminates the rough, porous surface where plaque and particles lodge. Treating gum inflammation shrinks pockets so your home care reaches farther.  

As pockets reduce and surfaces smooth out, the mouth becomes a less hospitable place for anything to hide—microplastics included. Reviews on periodontal disease consistently link shallower pockets and lower plaque levels with improved tissue health; reducing additional irritants is part of that bigger preventive picture.  

The Bottom Line for Red Deer Patients - Dental Hygiene Matters!

You can’t avoid every microplastic in modern life, but you can make your mouth a place where particles don’t linger. Keep daily hygiene consistent, rinse after higher-exposure moments, and stick to regular professional cleanings. If your gums bleed or you’ve noticed food catching in a “pit,” let’s check it. Early, comfortable care pays off fast. And if deeper pockets are present, we’ll design a non-surgical gum therapy plan to clear them and support healing, so your home care goes further between visits.  

Book with our hygiene team any time and bring your questions! Our goal is to keep your smile healthy and resilient in the real world.