One of the most common causes of gingivitis, caries, periodontitis or other dental diseases is plaque, which is almost impossible to completely eliminate with a toothbrush. Soft deposits on the teeth in the form of plaque gradually accumulate in hard-to-reach areas, where over time they begin to harden, turning into stones, they can later be removed only with the help of professional teeth cleaning, which is carried out once a year.
However, soft plaque, which forms a few hours after eating, can be eliminated with the help of modern dental products on your own. These are special indicators of plaque, showing its location in the oral cavity.
Mechanism of action of indicators
You can check how clean your teeth are by using special means to indicate plaque on your teeth. On thetoday there are many similar pharmacological preparations in the form of tablets, sprays and liquids that determine the presence of plaque. The tablet form is the most popular, as tablets are cheaper and more convenient to use.
The principle of action of plaque indicators is as follows: special food colorings, which are part of such products, stain the sticky film of the oral cavity, which is plaque, in a bright color. This action allows you to visually identify areas of the dentition that need more attention during the cleaning process.
When the raid is fresh
In cases where plaque is fresh, that is, it was formed no more than three days ago, then the zones of such teeth will turn pink or red. Such a film can be removed independently by brushing your teeth well. However, if plaque is old, plaque indicators will turn it blue. This phenomenon indicates the presence of tartar. They can only be removed by a dentist. In children, as a rule, this problem rarely occurs. It is usually observed in the adult population of the planet.
Many people do not realize that there is such an amazing dental tool on the pharmacological market as a plaque indicator on the teeth. Dentists are increasingly recommending such indicators to their patients to improve the process of personal hygiene of the oral cavity and dentition, as well as to prevent the occurrence ofmany dangerous diseases.
Composition of indicators
Some dental patients mistakenly believe that these products are unhe althy because they contain food coloring that contributes to tooth staining.
In fact, plaque indicators are completely safe for children and adults, and dyes are easily removed from teeth and gums with a regular toothbrush. As a coloring agent, erythrosin is used, which is a food additive E127. This dye works without penetrating into the hard tissues of the oral cavity. In addition to it, the indicators contain the following substances:
- water;
- potassium sorbate;
- sodium benzoate;
- magnesium stearate;
- magnesium carbonate;
- polyvinylpyrrolidone.
Xylitol or saccharin may be added in some cases. Also, manufacturers often use a variety of food flavors to make plaque-indicating products taste and smell pleasant to children.
Rules of application
Indicators that detect plaque and tartar can be used at any age. However, children under 6 years of age should use these products only under the supervision of their parents, who must observe that the child does not swallow the tablet or indication liquid.
To determine the areas where plaque and tartar are located, you need to chew one tablet, distributing it throughout the mouth(half a tablet is enough for a child). If the indicator is liquid, rinse your mouth thoroughly with it. The chewing or rinsing procedure takes about one minute. Swallowing the product is strictly prohibited. Next, you need to spit out the remedy, and rinse your mouth well with warm water and examine it in the mirror. Bacterial plaque on the teeth will be immediately noticeable. After that, the areas of staining should simply be cleaned with toothpaste and a brush.
Types of funds
There are many different companies that produce plaque indicators. When choosing a remedy, you need to take into account age, the presence of allergies, the price of the drug. The most popular are the following medications:
- Kuraprox;
- "President";
- Dinal;
- Disclosing tablets;
- Miradent.
They are all easy to use, safe and effective, only their cost and the number of pieces per pack differ. For home use, such products are recommended for patients wearing braces, babies with mixed dentition, as well as people who suffer from various dental diseases.
Now many people know what plaque indicators are and how they are used.
