Supertooth Plaque Watch School Project Home * Supertooth book * Approved Products  * Blog  * Journal 06 * Experiments Activities * 1.Brush Gum margins * 2.Floss Between teeth * 3.Chewing Inside grooves

Plaque can be seen at gum margins with a drop of food dye the foam strip in the Supertooth Project photo. Teachers can place a drop of dye on strip of food wrap over the students fingre which is wiped on top front teeth and licked off and the food wrap removed into a paper towel. At home a drop of dye in a spoon is easy and the toothbrush can be compared to chewing a fibre like celery string or just wiping with a small cloth. Also floss removes dye from between teeth even after brushing.

Plaque changes fermentable carbohydrate like sugar and starch to acid which demineralises tooth and eventually causes cavities.

Brushing with fluoride toothpaste toughens teeth and helps remove plaque from gum margins that could change sugar to acid.

Plaque bacteria can double every 20 minutes so it is about 8 hours before plaque buildup can convert much sugar to acid.

Saliva has access to gum margins after brushing to dilute sugars, neutralise acid and repair demineralised tooth.

Almost all cavities occur where food is trapped between teeth and inside pits and fissures in grooves on chewing surfaces where the brush and saliva cannot reach after every meal or snack. It is desirable to reduce trapped food on teeth after every meal or snack.

Experiments
Plaque bacteria + Fermentable carbohydrate = acid

Acid + Tooth  = cavities  Place an eggshell in half a cup of vinegar and see the acid soften the shell and eventually make a hole.

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