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It’s colourless & sticky!
To beat your enemy, you first have to know all about it: How it evolves and where and how it survives and expands. Plaque is the number one enemy to healthy teeth and gums. It starts within minutes after eating and, if not contained, takes the shape of a colourless and sticky film on the teeth and its roots. It is not visible at first and thrives on food remains. With time, plaque produces enough acids that can destroy not only the teeth enamel, but also the tooth roots and gum. Experts in oral care tell us all about plaque and the essentials for having a healthy mouth and an attractive smile for life.
Who is the enemy?
Dr. Irshad Shaik, Dental Surgeon at Bagdad Medical Centre, Dubai says, ”Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that attacks your teeth, when sugar containing food like chocolates, soft drinks, raisins, cakes, or candy etc are frequently left on the teeth, eroding the surface enamel and hence causing tooth decay. These bacteria thrive on these foods and the plaque starts producing acids that causes tooth decay and irritates the gums as well, causing the breakdown of the gums and its supporting tissues, eventually leading to gum disease”. He continues, “The essentials therefore of fighting tooth decay is to contain the enemy at the early start of its formation and to even prevent it from being formed. Containing plaque and preventing it from forming is a basic step to maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
Dr. Irshad explains that while brushing teeth is essential immediately after meals, the majority of individuals tend to either not brush properly due to lack of technique or interest, wherein we tend to miss the difficult areas where food particles provide the residing plaque with the required nutrition for it to sustain itself. He says:” “Brushing teeth, although not complicated, is something most of us simply do not know how to do properly and we pay the price for this. Proper brushing techniques not only remove bacteria and plaque, but also minimize the attachment of bacteria, and prevent the formation of additional plaque (calculus/tartar). The improper technique can also lead to abrasion cavities near the gum line.
 
So how do we brush teeth correctly?
Dr. Irshad explains,”If plaque is not regularly removed from the teeth, it leads to decay, including the areas below the gum line; and it can irritate the gums, leading to gum disease. Regular brushing and cleaning between teeth is essential to help prevent gum disease. People do not give brushing teeth the time it needs and always do it in a rush and hence pay the penalty. My recommendation is that to fight plaque, it is back to basics, you have to be patient, thorough and consistent and know the proper technique involved in brushing your teeth.”
Dr. Irshad describes a proper tooth brushing techniques as follows:
• Tilt the bristles of the brush along the gumline at a 45-degree angle and apply firm pressure so the bristles slide under the gumline. Vibrate the brush while you move it in short back and forth strokes and in small circular motions. Brush two or three teeth at a time, and then move to the next set of teeth, allowing some overlap.
• Switch to the outsides of the upper teeth, and then the outsides of the lower teeth. Brush the chewing surfaces of the upper teeth, then the lower teeth and end by gently brushing your tongue and the roof of your mouth. This removes germs and will keep your breath fresh always.
What’s going to be my weapon?
Dr. Irshad explains,” You should see your toothbrush as a tool or weapon for fighting plaque and therefore, individuals should be pay a great deal of attention to what toothbrushes they use, and how often they need to change them. It is important to brush at least twice a day, using a soft/medium toothbrush and with a technique which makes it easier to remove the plaque and concentrate below the gum line, where periodontal disease starts. In order to reach difficult places, there are toothbrushes in the market that have longer bristles towards the end of the head which allows individuals to reach behind the last molars when brushing. Most people do not realize that toothbrush bristles ware out after few months. While there are toothbrushes in the market that have indicators for the brush, to indicate to users when bristles are wearing out, we ideally recommend changing your toothbrush every 2-3 months.” Dr. Irshad explains that toothbrush manufacturers who invest heavily in R&D have devised ways that allow users to quickly and easily notice when toothbrushes become overused. He said,” An example is Oral-B, where all toothbrushes of which have bristles that change color and fade with use not to mention the rotary brush which is the best invention after the mobile phone!” For example, Oral-B brushes feature “blue” Indicator® bristles that fade halfway with use, telling users when it's time to change their toothbrush. Oral-B has also a number of products that feature unique CrissCross® bristles. The bristles are designed to reach deep between teeth to lift out and sweep away plaque - even from the tough spots.
Experts in dentistry agree with Dr. Irshad and point out that, research demonstrates that regular replacement of toothbrushes contributes to maintaining a consistently high level of oral hygiene. LK Gupta, regional business manager for Oral-B, the brand used by more dentists worldwide, says: ”Regular replacement of toothbrushes contributes to maintaining a consistently high level of oral hygiene because clinical research shows, a new toothbrush can remove up to 30% more plaque than one that 's three months old.”
Dr. Irshad summarizes the dangers of overusing toothbrushes:
• Brushes should be rinsed thoroughly after each use and stored upright, allowing it to dry out properly as moisture can again lead to bacteria breeding on the brush.
• Bristles of any toothbrush - manual or electric - will become worn out and frayed with regular brushing leading to incomplete cleaning
• Apart from the inferior toothbrush performance, continuing to use an old brush can lead to serious dental problems.
Dr. Irshad ends saying:
• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner.
• Change your toothbrush regularly; keep an eye on the brissles
• Eat a balanced diet and control the snacks in between meal times.
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleaning and oral exams.
• Most importantly,” Do not sleep with the enemy!”
Brushing tips provided by Oral-B, the brand used by more dentists worldwide:
• Choose the type of brush that suits you the most. “Soft” to “Medium” tooth brushes is recommended because people who brush using a wrong brushing technique and brush hard can damage their teeth.
• Certain brushes come with indicators, once these wear off, you must re-place your brush.
• Techniques of brushing are different: you can either brush away from the gums or in circular motion but never in too much force.
• Brush your teeth in the morning to feel fresh and get rid of any plaque formation in the night.
• Brush your teeth after each meal if possible, especially if you have had anything that sticks on the teeth such as chocolate, coffee, etc because this is the ideal environment for bacteria to thrive in.
• Brush your teeth before you go to bed: The foods we eat tend to stick and the mouth has a tendency to become dry during the night. The accumulated particles harden onto the tooth surface eventually forming tartar/calculus.
• If you suffer from an illness such as cold or flu, you should replace your toothbrush immediately and change it again when you feel better to avoid re-infection from germs.
• Change your toothbrush every 3 months. Research shows that new toothbrush can remove up to 30% more plaque than one that is three months old. |
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