Removing Plaque From Your Teeth Effectively
http://www.mymeditationcoach.com/articles/8480/1/Removing-Plaque-From-Your-Teeth-Effectively/Page1.html
Sandy Gibson
Sandy Gibson is the pseudonym of a practising dentist, author and newspaper correspondent. he also writes websites and suggests you check out his newest website <a href="http://www.orthomaticadjustablebeds.com" title="http://www.orthomaticadjustablebeds.com" target="_blank">http://www.orthomaticadjustablebeds.com</a> and specifically <a href="http://www.orthomaticadjustablebeds.com/adjustable-bed-mattress.html" title="http://www.orthomaticadjustablebeds.com/adjustable-bed-mattress.html" target="_blank">http://www.orthomaticadjustablebeds.com/adjustable-bed-mattress.html</a> By Sandy Gibson
Published on 04/21/2010
There are many forms of bacteria in the mouth, but we will concern ourselves only with bacterial plaque Bacteria colonise on the surfaces of teeth and together with mucin which is a sticky component of saliva they form plaque
There are many forms of bacteria in the mouth, but we will concern ourselves only with bacterial plaque. Bacteria colonise on the surfaces of teeth and together with mucin which is a sticky component of saliva they form plaque. Incidentally even people who have eaten nothing and are in a situation of extreme starvation still make plaque.
Plaque is very sticky and it is within plaque that the two main attacks on the mouth, teeth and gums begins. For this reason it is vital to remove it every day and toothbrushing of course is the normal method used, although dental floss should also be used to remove plaque between teeth and at the gum margin where the toothbrush cannot effectively clean.
The problem is actually simple, and that is plaque is very difficult to see. Therefore you need to take steps to reveal the plaque prior to its removal, or even after cleaning so you can see plaque you have failed to remove!!
What you need to do is to stain plaque with a dye, and you can do this by rinsing out your mouth with a food dye, and one of the best is Rose Pink.
There are a number of proprietary products in the shops and pharmacies that are available today, commonly known as disclosing tablets. They vary in that some merely stain all plaque, but some others are able to differentiate between new and old plaque, which stain as a different colour, quite often red and blue.
There are a couple of things to remember before disclosing, and the first is that disclosing agents are there to disclose plaque, and not to be swallowed. Some food colouring dyes contain an additive number E102 called tartrazine, and some people are allergic to this substance, so check the labelling before using.
The second thing is to smear some petroleum jelly on the lips first or you may look afterwards as if you are wearing lipstick which can be embarrassing. Having said that it can on occasions be a weapon do be used with youngsters who don’t brush their teeth properly. I know of one mother who got fed up using a disclosing tablet on her thirteen year old son before he cleaned his teeth, that one morning after sending him upstairs to clean his teeth before school, then disclosed him as he was about to go out the door. No petroleum jelly was applied so her son had to leave for school looking as if he was wearing lipstick, and with red teeth into the bargain. The lad never forgave his mother for the embarrassment, but his teeth were always immaculately clean thereafter!!
It is important to understand that none of the anti plaque mouthwashes on sale in pharmacies and supermarkets actually remove plaque by themselves. They may inhibit the growth of plaque, or soften plaque, but they never remove plaque. This always has to be done manually with a toothbrush, and floss. Much is made of toothbrushing technique, but quite honestly if a disclosing agent is used, the technique is irrelevant, so long as all stain is removed.
Plaque is very sticky and it is within plaque that the two main attacks on the mouth, teeth and gums begins. For this reason it is vital to remove it every day and toothbrushing of course is the normal method used, although dental floss should also be used to remove plaque between teeth and at the gum margin where the toothbrush cannot effectively clean.
The problem is actually simple, and that is plaque is very difficult to see. Therefore you need to take steps to reveal the plaque prior to its removal, or even after cleaning so you can see plaque you have failed to remove!!
What you need to do is to stain plaque with a dye, and you can do this by rinsing out your mouth with a food dye, and one of the best is Rose Pink.
There are a number of proprietary products in the shops and pharmacies that are available today, commonly known as disclosing tablets. They vary in that some merely stain all plaque, but some others are able to differentiate between new and old plaque, which stain as a different colour, quite often red and blue.
There are a couple of things to remember before disclosing, and the first is that disclosing agents are there to disclose plaque, and not to be swallowed. Some food colouring dyes contain an additive number E102 called tartrazine, and some people are allergic to this substance, so check the labelling before using.
The second thing is to smear some petroleum jelly on the lips first or you may look afterwards as if you are wearing lipstick which can be embarrassing. Having said that it can on occasions be a weapon do be used with youngsters who don’t brush their teeth properly. I know of one mother who got fed up using a disclosing tablet on her thirteen year old son before he cleaned his teeth, that one morning after sending him upstairs to clean his teeth before school, then disclosed him as he was about to go out the door. No petroleum jelly was applied so her son had to leave for school looking as if he was wearing lipstick, and with red teeth into the bargain. The lad never forgave his mother for the embarrassment, but his teeth were always immaculately clean thereafter!!
It is important to understand that none of the anti plaque mouthwashes on sale in pharmacies and supermarkets actually remove plaque by themselves. They may inhibit the growth of plaque, or soften plaque, but they never remove plaque. This always has to be done manually with a toothbrush, and floss. Much is made of toothbrushing technique, but quite honestly if a disclosing agent is used, the technique is irrelevant, so long as all stain is removed.