For more information about how an unhealthy mouth can hurt you, please visit WebMD.com(1).
Why is neglecting your teeth so dangerous? What causes all this trouble? It’s because of the bacteria (very tiny organisms) that live in your mouth. These bacteria are there all the time, and usually they are good because they help prevent other kinds of bacteria that could make you very sick from growing there(2).
LET’S SEE HOW GOOD YOU ARE AT BRUSHING YOUR TEETH!
Here’s what you’ll need:
1. A soft-bristle toothbrush (it doesn’t have to be new, as long as it’s yours!)
3. Floss, one piece at least 12 inches long
4. Plaque disclosing tablets, such as 2Tone or GUM Red Cote. Almost all dentists’ offices carry these, and will give them to you for free if you ask. You can also purchase them online at butlerGUMexpress.com or DentaKit.com.
1. Using your soft-bristle toothbrush and toothpaste, brush and floss your teeth as you normally would.
2. Remove one disclosing tablet from the package, and chew it. Swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds.
3. After 30 seconds spit it out, DON’T SWALLOW IT!
4. Look in the mirror at your teeth. Do you see any colorful spots? These are the spots where plaque is hiding!
5. Brush your teeth again, making sure to remove all the stained spots.
Do you notice anything different about how your mouth felt the second time? Are your teeth smoother? Feel them with your tongue, and pay attention to how they feel, because this is how they should feel after you brush them. If they don’t you may need to brush a little more carefully, or you may need to replace your toothbrush (remember to replace it every 3 months)!
Now that you’re finished learning how best to brush your teeth, you probably have some disclosing tablets left. What else can you test? Here are a few ideas to try:
· Does one brand of toothpaste remove plaque better than another brand? Use one brand in the evening, and rinse with a disclosing tablet. Take a picture of your teeth (or have a parent do it for you). Use the competing brand the following evening, and rinse with a disclosing tablet. Take another picture of your teeth. Which time did your teeth appear cleaner? Remember: use the same toothbrush and brush at the same time of day for the same length of time, so the only thing that is different is the toothpaste!
· Does one brand of toothbrush work better to remove dental plaque than another brand? Follow the instructions above, but use a different toothbrush each evening. For this test, you should make sure both toothbrushes are new, so that you can be sure they have both been used the same number of times.
Whatever you try, be sure to write down everything you did, and everything you saw in your notebook!
References for further research:
1) Oral Health: The Mouth-Body Connection. WebMD. 2012, Jan 4. Retrieved 4-24-14. www.WebMD.com.
2) Frei, Rosemary. The Pros and Cons of Oral Bacteria. DrBicuspid. Retrieved 4-24-14. www.drbicuspid.com.
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