Dentoplako restas inter la dentoj.

Dentoplako is a compound word:

• dento = tooth
• plako = plaque

So dentoplako literally means tooth-plaque, i.e. dental plaque.

In Esperanto compounds, the main idea usually comes at the end. So plako is the basic noun, and dento- tells you what kind of plaque it is.

Restas comes from resti, which means to remain, stay, continue to be.

So:

• estas = is
• restas = remains / stays

Using restas gives the idea that the plaque continues to be there between the teeth, not just that it is there in a neutral sense.

In Esperanto, all present-tense verbs end in -as.

So:

• resti = to remain
• restas = remains / stays

Some useful verb endings:

• -as = present
• -is = past
• -os = future
• -us = conditional
• -u = command / wish
• -i = infinitive

Because this sentence describes location, not movement toward something.

• inter la dentoj = between the teeth
• inter la dentojn would suggest movement into/between the teeth

A good rule is:

• no -n for a place where something is
• -n can appear when there is motion toward that place

Here, the plaque remains there, so it is just location: inter la dentoj.

Inter means between or among.

In this sentence, inter la dentoj means between the teeth.

Because teeth are a plural group, inter fits naturally here. It connects the idea of something being in the space among multiple teeth.

La is the Esperanto definite article, meaning the.

So:

• la dentoj = the teeth

It does not change for number or gender, so la always stays la.

In this sentence, the teeth are understood as a specific set: the teeth in the mouth being discussed. That is why la sounds natural.

Dentoj is plural because inter usually refers to a space involving more than one thing.

• dento = tooth
• dentoj = teeth

Since plaque is between teeth, the plural makes sense. Saying inter la dento would sound odd, because you normally cannot be between only one tooth.

Here dentoplako is being treated as a singular or mass noun: dental plaque as a substance or general buildup.

So:

• dentoplako = dental plaque
• dentoplakoj = dental plaques / separate plaque deposits

The singular is the most natural form if you are talking about plaque in a general sense.

Because dentoplako is the subject of the sentence.

The sentence structure is:

• Dentoplako = subject
• restas = verb
• inter la dentoj = prepositional phrase

In Esperanto, the accusative -n is normally used for a direct object, but resti does not take a direct object here. The plaque is the thing doing the remaining, so it stays in the nominative form: dentoplako.

The word order is straightforward and natural:

• Dentoplako = subject
• restas = verb
• inter la dentoj = place expression

So the sentence follows a common pattern:

subject + verb + location

Esperanto word order is fairly flexible, but this version is simple and clear.

Esperanto stress is always on the second-to-last syllable.

So:

• Dentoplako → den-to-PLA-ko
• restas → RES-tas
• inter → IN-ter
• dentoj → DEN-toj

That regular stress pattern is one of the helpful features of Esperanto.