Contents:
Medical Video: Dental Health Check for Kids
Definition
What is dental plaque examination?
Dental plaque self-examination is done using a product that will stain the plaque on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky layer that attaches to the teeth, slips between the teeth, and the gap between the teeth and gums. Plaques can harden into tartar. Stains from the dental product will show how regularly you brush your teeth and do flossing.
Plaque is formed due to bacteria that settles in the teeth. These bacteria react to sugar and flour in the food you consume to produce acids and other substances that cause damage to teeth, gums and bones. Acid will pass tooth enamel by breaking minerals from enamel (demineralization).
Products that you can use at home are:
- disclosing tablets
- disclosing solution
- disclosing swabs
These products will stain missed plaques when you brush your teeth and use floss to clean between teeth and gums. A good technique in brushing your teeth and when flossing will break the plaque and prevent bacteria from settling with the acid to damage the teeth.
When should I undergo dental plaque examination?
Plaques form on the teeth every day and need to be cleaned. The plaque that is left will stick along the grooves and the upper surface of the teeth, between the teeth, and the gingival gap. Examination is done to help you identify missed plaques and improve the way you brush your teeth and flossing so that no more plaque is missed. If dental plaque is not cleaned, this can cause tooth decay and bleeding in the gums (gingivitis), causing the area of the tooth to swell and redden.
Checking plaque will help you to treat oral and dental health better.
Prevention & warning
What should I know before undergoing dental plaque examination?
Special dental glass will bleed when too long in your mouth. Rinse the glass first with warm water to overcome this. Disclosing tablets may cause redness of the cheeks and lips. The tablet will also make the inside of the mouth and tongue become reddish. Dentists recommend using disclosing tablets at night so that the next day, the discoloration of your face disappears completely.
Process
What should I do before undergoing dental plaque examination?
You will need:
- one of them is: disclosing in tablet, liquid or gel form
- special dental glass to examine the inside of the mouth that is difficult to reach
You can get all the devices above at the dentist's office or the nearest pharmacy.
What is the process of examining dental plaque?
Brush your teeth and do flossing as usual. After that, use the disclosing product that you have. Follow the usage rules printed on the product label. Rinse your mouth with clean water. Check for plaque that is still left behind. A disclosing product will color the plaque in your teeth. Your gum may also be tarnished with dyes in the disclosing product, but this is a common thing. Use dental glass, if available, to help you examine the teeth inside the mouth. If you find a stain, repeat brushing and flossing until the entire area of the tooth is clean. Disclosing using disclosing will help you to clear the area that is passed.
Disclosing tablets
Chew the tablet and let it melt mixed with your saliva. Rinse the disclosing tablet solution, reach out to the tooth area with your tongue. Do this for 30 seconds, then discard the solution.
Liquid disclosing
Rinse the disclosing liquid liquid for 30 seconds, then discard it.
Disclosing swab
Apply the gel evenly to the teeth using a cotton bud. The application can be repeated until you no longer find colored plaques after brushing your teeth and doing flossing. You can use this gel once a month to make sure you have cleaned the plaque thoroughly.
What should I do after undergoing dental plaque examination?
A disclosing product will color your mouth and tongue at least all day after using the product. This coloring agent is not dangerous. Most people use disclosing tablets at night so that the next day the color changes fade over time. Some disclosing tablets will make red stains that can stain your clothes. Be sure to always read the usage instructions listed on the product label. Some disclosing products contain dyes that can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Explanation of Test Results
What do the test results mean?
Normal
There are no colored plaques or food scraps in the teeth.
Abnormal
The tablet will color the plaque area to dark red. Disclosing the form of mouthwash will color the plaque area into bright orange.
Colored plaques indicate that you are passing through these places when cleaning teeth. Repeat brushing your teeth to clean the plaque thoroughly.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
