What is a self-examination for dental plaque?

A self-examination for dental plaque is done using a product that stains the plaque on your teeth. Dental plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that sticks to your teeth, the spaces between the teeth and under your gums. It can harden into tartar. The stain lets you to see how well you are brushing and flossing your teeth.

Plaque is made of different germs (bacteria) that grow on teeth. These bacteria react with sugars and starches in foods to make acids and other substances that can cause problems and damage the teeth, gums and bone. Acids can eat away at tooth enamel by removing minerals from the enamel (this is called demineralization).

Products you can use at home include:

• Disclosing tablets
• Disclosing solution
• Disclosing swabs

These products stain plaque that was missed when you brushed and flossed along your gum lines and between your teeth. Good brushing and flossing breaks up the plaque and does not let the bacteria and acid cause problems.

Dental plaque is an "unhealthy expression" of the oral biofilm that is an essential and protective bacterial community in the mouth that also aids in digestion and is an essential part of the salivary immune system. An imbalance in the oral biofilm causes a change in its consistency from thin and odorless, to a thicker, sticky and smelly film which has been commonly called dental plaque. While a number of diagnostic products such as disclosing tablets, solutions and swabs can be used to illustrate its presence in the mouth, the most important consideration is how to restore the oral biofilm to a balanced state (microbial homeostasis) which reverses the unhealthy condition and restores the biofilm to its thin odorless and disease resistant state. This important modulation occurs through a more alkaline diet and the elimination of harsh and disturbing oral care products that were designed to "kill plaque" which is not recognized as an ineffectual and potentially harmful approach.