Sunday, June 26, 2011

Oral Bacteria May Stop Dental Plaque

What is Plaque?
Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria and sugars that constantly forms on our teeth. It is the main cause of cavities and gum disease, and can harden into tartar if not removed daily.
Your gums and teeth are directly connected to the blood stream, therefore, they are your first line of defense against disease and should be treated with the care they deserve. Poor dental health has be linked to heart disease, stroke, gum disease and even premature births, according to recent research.







Dental plaque is difficult to see unless it's stained. You can stain plaque by chewing red "disclosing tablets," found at grocery stores and drug stores, or by using a cotton swab to smear green food coloring on your teeth. The red or green color left on the teeth will show you where there is still plaque—and where you have to brush again to remove it.
Stain and examine your teeth regularly to make sure you are removing all plaque.


How Do I Know if I Have Plaque?
Everyone develops plaque because bacteria are constantly forming in our mouths. These bacteria use ingredients found in our diet and saliva to grow. Plaque causes cavities when the acids from plaque attack teeth after eating. With repeated acid attacks, the tooth enamel can break down and a cavity may form. Plaque that is not removed can also irritate the gums around your teeth, leading to gingivitis (red, swollen, bleeding gums), periodontal disease and tooth loss.
Ask your dentist or dental hygienist if your plaque removal techniques are okay.

Step One: Floss
Use floss to remove germs and food particles between teeth. Rinse.

Step Two: Brush Teeth
Use any tooth brushing method that is comfortable, but do not scrub hard back and forth. Small circular motions and short back and forth motions work well. Rinse.

To prevent decay, it's what's on the toothbrush that counts. Use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is what protects teeth from decay.

Brush the tongue for a fresh feeling! Rinse again.
Remember: food residues, especially sweets, provide nutrients for the germs that cause tooth decay, as well as those that cause gum disease. That's why it is important to remove all food residues, as well as plaque, from teeth. Remove plaque at least once a day — twice a day is better. If you brush and floss once daily, do it before going to bed. 

How Can I Prevent Plaque Buildup?
It's easy to prevent plaque buildup with proper care. Make sure to:
  •     Brush thoroughly at least twice a day to remove plaque from all surfaces of your teeth
  •     Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and under your gumline, where your toothbrush may not reach
  •     Limit sugary or starchy foods, especially sticky snacks
  •     Schedule regular dental visits for professional cleanings and dental examinations.

     Oral health experts are suggesting that an enzyme produced by mouth bacterium inhibits dental plaque.

    The finding could eventually lead to the development of toothpaste that harnesses the body's own plaque-fighting tools.


    The team of scientist from Japan show that the bacterium, Streptococcus salivarius, a non-biofilm forming and otherwise harmless inhabitant of the human mouth, actually inhibits the formation of dental biofilms – or plaque.

    The bacteria produces two enzymes that are responsible for this inhibition.

    The research is published in the March 2011 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental.

    Author, Hidenobu Senpuku, of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Tokyo, says of one of the enzymes: ‘FruA may be useful for prevention of dental caries. The activity of the inhibitors was elevated in the presence of sucrose, and the inhibitory effects were dependent on the sucrose concentration in the biofilm formation assay medium.

    ‘We show that FruA, produced by S. salivarius inhibited S. mutans biofilm formation completely in the in vitro assay supplemented with sucrose.'

    S. salivarius is the primary species of bacteria inhabiting the mouth, according to the report.

    The authors suggest that FruA may actually regulate microbial pathogenicity in the oral cavity.

    They found that a commercial FruA, produced by Aspergillus niger, was as effective as S. salivarius FruA at inhibiting S. mutans biofilm formation, despite the fact that its amino acid composition is somewhat different from that of S. salivarius.

    FruA is produced not only by S. salivarius, but by other oral streptococci.

    17 comments:

    1. ...well aside from practicing good oral care (brushing and floosing), it would be better that you avoid bad habits like smoking. You can also cut-down the intake of coffee and sodas. These are the causes of yellowing teeth.

      Harry Bronson

      ReplyDelete
    2. Great article, Plaque is one of the common disease found in humans early detection and treatment for plaque is important to have a healthy teeth for future

      Cosmetic Dentist in Toronto

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Yes true. Plaque could lead to damage our teeth so its very important to cure it by visiting a dentist.

        Dentist in Edmonton

        Delete
    3. Thanks for sharing such an informative post.Dental plaque is a soft deposit that forms on the surface of teeth. It contains many types of germs (bacteria). To stay away from this keep having habit of brushing your teeth twice a day also visit Dentist In Gilbert once in a 3 to 6 months for good dental health.

      ReplyDelete
    4. I really enjoyed reading your post. This shows how important for us to take proper care of our teeth.

      Dentist in Duncan, BC

      ReplyDelete
    5. Hi there! glad to drop by your page and found these very interesting and informative stuff. Thanks for sharing, keep it up!

      Dentist in Calgary

      ReplyDelete
    6. Thanks for sharing such an informative post. After reading this post one can come to know how our bad teeth can affect our health by creating heart disease, stroke, gum disease etc. so always take care of our teeth by visiting Dentist in Pickering .

      ReplyDelete
    7. To avoid major issues one should visit dentist at least once in a year and have a clean up done during the visit.

      Dentist In Fredericton

      ReplyDelete
    8. The Importance of Saliva in Preventing Dental Plaque and Bad Breath. A sufficient amount of saliva is necessary to:

      Eliminate destructive bacteria that enter the body through the mouth before it can reach the bloodstream
      Aid in the digestion process by initializing food breakdown using enzymes before it enters the stomach
      Help in neutralizing oral acids
      Maintain adequate moisture in membranes involved with smell and taste
      Inhibit tooth decay by continuously cleaning the mouth, removing cariogenic carbohydrates and negate the abrasive effects of lactic acid
      Impart beneficial chemicals to the mouth such as lactoferrin (protein) and mucin. A glycoprotein responsible for saliva's hydrating qualities, mucin allows saliva to keep membranes optimally moistened
      Enhance the immune system by providing an antibody called IgA. Also make regular visits to dentists to improve your oral health state.

      ReplyDelete
    9. Love the info you have in here thanks for sharing. My
      cosmetic dentist gilbert will love this

      ReplyDelete
    10. On the initial attempt a dentist might use surrounding gum tissue. natural treatment to reverse receding gums

      ReplyDelete
    11. Using sufficient size (15-18 inches) floss as well as ending up both center fingers leaving 1-2 inch taut floss in between.Carefully location floss in between by squeezing. How To Regrow Receding Gums At Home

      ReplyDelete
    12. This comment has been removed by the author.

      ReplyDelete
    13. These are genuinely impressive ideas in concerning blogging. You have touched some fastidious things about Regrow Gums Naturally At Home. Any way keep up writing.

      ReplyDelete
    14. Spot on with this write-up, I actually think this amazing site needs much more attention. I'll probably be returning to see more, thanks for the advice!|
      How To Fix Receding Gums Without Surgery

      ReplyDelete
    15. It's wonderful that you are getting ideas from this piece of writing Reverse Receding Gums Without Surgery
      as well as from our dialogue made at this place.|

      ReplyDelete