Dental Plaque Can Ruin Even The Best Smiles

In the field of preventative dentistry there is a lot of discussion about dental plaque, and the role it plays in causing dental disease both in teeth and gums. A person may have a really lovely smile, but that smile may be in jeopardy from plaque, which is a harmful, invisible continuously forming, sticky film. Many of us are familiar with that "furry" feeling our teeth sometimes have when we touch them with our tongues - this is a tell-tale sign of plaque. A thin bacteria-free film called the pellicle covers the exposed surfaces of teeth and gums. Random contact of bacteria onto the pellicle leads to colonies of plaque forming. These colonies are bound together with various substances from the saliva and cells which are constantly being shed from inside your mouth. When we eat sugary foods the bacteria in the plaque turn the sugar into firstly an acid which attacks the surface of the tooth, and secondly into a sticky glue which causes more bacteria to become stuck to the teeth and gums. So the more sugar we eat the more plaque forms, the more acid is produced and the more dental decay results. The bacteria in plaque produce toxins or poisons which attack the gums. You know that your gums are at risk when they become reddened and bleed easily. Caught early enough this condition can be treated quite simply, but neglect will allow much more serious gum disease to develop. Control of plaque can result from efficient tooth brushing and careful use of dental floss. Think of your toothbrush as a small broom which is able to sweep away plaque. Next time you seek dental treatment ask for a demonstration in both tooth brushing and the correct use of dental floss. You should ideally clean your teeth after eating - but if this is not possible at least as soon after .breakfast and after the evening meal. A good swish and a swallow with water after lunch is also a help. The toothbrush which has a small head, and soft bristles which are trimmed flat and straight is best. Just remember the three S's: soft, small and straight. As for toothpaste it is a pleasant thing to use it as it helps to clean teeth, but look for a toothpaste containing fluoride because fluoride makes the surface of the teeth more resistant to acid attack. A child needs to be shown how to use a toothbrush properly "Scrubbing" actions should not be used: a side-to-side action will leave food in gaps between the teeth, while scrubbing up and down and can damage gums. Ideas on tooth brushing vary, but four commonly recommended actions are: repeated downward strokes for the upper teeth; upward strokes for the bottom; a back-and-forth action for the tops of the molars; and an up-and-down action for the rear surface of the front teeth. Electric toothbrushes are a good alternative: they clean the teeth effectively, massage the gums, and are often popular with children. Sugar is really harmful to teeth particularly if it is taken in a sticky form rather than a liquid form. You can also limit the number of acid attacks by limiting the number of times you eat sugar in a day. Sources: http://stayhealthyblog.com/ http://www.icwes15.org/