Materia Alba

Materia Alba

Write short note on Materia alba.
Answer. Materia alba is a concentration of microorganisms, desquamated epithelial cells, leukocytes and a mixture of salivary proteins and lipids, with few or no food particles and it lacks regular pattern observed in plaque.

• It is a yellowish or grayish white, soft sticky deposit and is less adherent than dental plaque.
• The irritating effct of materia alba on gingiva is caused by bacteria and their products.
• The materia alba is easily displaced with the water spray. Aqueous solutions are typically cleared within 15 minutes whereas sticky foods may adhere for more than one hour.
• Materia alba is the ideal growth medium for bacteria which leads to gingival inflammation.