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Self-Examination for Dental Plaque

Test Overview

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:

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.

Why It Is Done

Plaque forms on the teeth every day and needs to be removed. It sticks to grooves and biting surfaces of the back teeth, between the teeth, and next to the gum line.

Checking for dental plaque helps you take better care of your teeth and mouth.

How To Prepare

You will need a:

  • Supply of disclosing tablets, disclosing solution, or disclosing swabs.
  • Small dental mirror to check hard-to-see areas of your mouth. (A mirror is helpful but not required.)

Dental mirrors and disclosing tablets, solution, and swabs can be bought from most dentists and pharmacies.

How It Is Done

You will brush and floss your teeth. Then you will use the disclosing product. Follow the instructions on the package. Gently rinse your mouth with water. Check your teeth for plaque that has been colored with the dye. Your gums also may be stained and appear red, but this is not a problem. Use a dental mirror, if you have one, to help see behind teeth and the areas in the back of your mouth. If you find stained plaque, brush and floss again until it is gone. This helps you find areas you are missing.

Disclosing tablets

Chew a disclosing tablet and allow it to mix with your saliva. Swish the mixture around in your mouth with your tongue for about 30 seconds and then spit it out.

Disclosing solution

Put some disclosing solution in your mouth, swish it around for about 30 seconds, and then spit the solution out.

Disclosing swabs

Apply the swab to all tooth surfaces in your mouth.

Use these products regularly until you find no more areas of stained plaque after you brush and floss. You may want to test for plaque once a month to be sure you are getting rid of the plaque.

How It Feels

Disclosing tablets and disclosing solution do not cause any discomfort. These products may be flavored to make them more pleasant-tasting.

Risks

After you use the disclosing tablets, your mouth and tongue may be temporarily stained for as long as a day with a harmless dye. Many people use the disclosing tablets at bedtime so that the stain left in their mouths can fade overnight.

Some disclosing tablets make a bright red stain, which can stain clothing.

Be sure to read the package instructions. Some disclosing products have dyes that people may be allergic to.

Results

A self-examination for dental plaque is done using a product that stains the plaque on your teeth. This lets you see how well you are brushing and flossing your teeth. If you see that the dye has stained plaque in your mouth along gum lines and between teeth, you can brush and floss more carefully. Try brushing again to remove the plaque.

What Affects the Test

There are no reasons why you cannot do this test unless you are allergic to the dyes used in these disclosing products. Check the ingredient list if you are allergic to some dyes.

What To Think About

The dental mirror may fog up while it is in your mouth. It may help to run it under warm water before using it.

References

Other Works Consulted

  • Beatty CF, Nikpur N (2009). Self-care measures to supplement toothbrushing. In NO Harris et al., eds., Primary Preventive Dentistry, 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Credits

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Patrice Burgess, MD, FAAFP - Family Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
Steven K. Patterson, BS, DDS, MPH - Dentistry

Current as ofMarch 28, 2018

Current as of: March 28, 2018

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Patrice Burgess, MD, FAAFP - Family Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Steven K. Patterson, BS, DDS, MPH - Dentistry