What are plaque disclosing tablets?
Disclosing tablets are chewable tablets that you use to show the plaque buildups on your teeth. Dental plaque causes tooth decay and you need to find this biofilm, as dentists say for plaque, to better locate and eliminate them on the teeth. With the help of plaque disclosing tablets, invisible plaque formation becomes visible through red or purple colors.
Disclosing agents are also available in liquid forms. It helps you and your child to see the accumulation of plaque and control it on your teeth. Therefore, the next time you want to clean your teeth, you brush or re-brush that part of your teeth that is more affected by plaque. It is a great way to manage the health of your gums and teeth with targeted cleaning and brushing.
What are plaque disclosing tablets used for?
- To show plaque on your teeth
- Manage and brush your teeth better, which helps get rid of plaque more easily
- Help you detect plaque earlier, so tooth decay, gum disease, and cavities are prevented
- Are great for children’s oral health maintenance and early childhood caries (ECC) doesn’t happen if plaque is removed
- Are useful oral products to detect plaque on teeth before or while having an orthodontic treatment
Types of disclosing tablets drugs
The disclosing tablets come in various names and product types.
- Two-tone disclosing agent. This is an amazing detection agent among oral hygiene products. By two tone disclosing tablets, you will see old and new plaques on teeth. Older plaques are identified and will be visible with blue color and new plaque will be red.
- FDC red NO.28: This is a disclosing agent which comes in both liquid and tablet form. It leaves a pink color on teeth to reveal plaque buildup.
- Fluorescein disclosing agent: This product colors the teeth but not visible under normal light. So, you need special light devices to make plaques visible (useful for children or teenagers who don’t want the dye to be visible).
How to use plaque disclosing tablets?
-
Buy them online or at your local pharmacy. Plaque disclosing tablets are available as over-the-counter. Choose tablets or liquid forms of the disclosing agent as you like.
-
Chew half of each tablet (use smaller portion for children: usually a quarter of the tablet) and swish it for about 15 to 30 seconds in your mouth with your natural saliva. Then spit it out.
If you get the disclosing solution, dab the disclosing agent with the cotton swab on your teeth (which comes as a kit with the package). Swish and spit as with the chewable tablets. Follow the instructions for the liquid or tablet and for children according to the product’s label. -
Now you can brush the spots that you see in pink or purple color based on the dye of each disclosing tablets that shows plaque. You may need to use lights to make it visible.
Use disclosing tablets for children
Children see disclosing agents as fun, a great way to engage them in their oral hygiene activities. Toothbrushing and flossing should be part of your child’s daily oral hygiene practices. If you want to detect plaque on your childs’ teeth and prevent early stages of decay or gum diseases signs, you need a plaque removal plan.
The best way to see and show your child the area of teeth and gum lines that have plaque on them is to use disclosing tablets. They are suitable for any person at any age. If children are not mature enough or have swallowing difficulties, you need to ask a pediatrician on how to use disclosing tablets.
Yes, disclosing tablets or solutions are safe to use. Plaque disclosing agents use dye and materials like food dyes, erythrosine, and fluorescein that are not harmful to your health. Keep in mind that disclosing material shouldn’t be swallowed. If your kid is very young (below 6 years of age) and have problems in swishing, you need a pediatrician or a dentist’s help beofore using disclosing solutions and tablets.
What is plaque and why you should remove it?
Dental plaque consists of many species of bacteria that are formed into biofilm, which is composed of organisms that adhere to the surface of the teeth. When dental plaque hardens, it becomes mineralized and will be calcified deposits on your teeth.
This type of plaque is called calculus and it is the dangerous stage of plaque that can’t be removed by brushing alone. This is why you will need to know where plaque accumulated on your teeth and start removing it with daily oral hygiene activities. Disclosing tablets will be a useful product to reveal the plaque accumulation on teeth and getting that off early on.
Plaque develops and even changes into other colors because of many factors like foods and drinks, poor oral hygiene, weak immune system, and oral diseases. When you chew your food or move your tongue or do other activities related to your teeth and mouth, plaque will be displaced to other areas of your teeth, especially in pits and fissures, interdental spaces, and your gumline.
Over time, by eating sugary foods and drinks, plaque feeds the bacteria like S.mutants and produces acid, which demineralizes the enamel of your teeth. So, tooth decay occurs and cavities are formed on your teeth. Plaque can also cause inflammation in your gums, which kicks off periodontal diseases and other gum problems.
