How to Detect Plaque
Because it is nearly colorless, plaque can be hard to see with the naked eye. It is difficult enough to detect on the front surfaces of teeth, but almost impossible to see on the back and sides. Fortunately, disclosing agents exist to help you keep your teeth clean. When you chew a disclosing tablet, it releases a special dye that stains plaque, letting you know what areas of your teeth need attention.
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Instructions
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1
Brush your teeth thoroughly.
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Chew a disclosing tablet thoroughly, taking care not to swallow your saliva.
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3
Move your tongue around to the surfaces of all your teeth, spreading the disclosing agent around.
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4
Spit out the disclosing agent and rinse your mouth out with fresh water.
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5
Look at your teeth in the mirror. The areas with plaque will be stained by the disclosing agent (usually a bright red or blue.)
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Use a dental mirror to check the backs of your teeth for plaque. Hold it inside your mouth while facing the bathroom mirror so that you can see the reflection of the back of your teeth in front of you.
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Brush your teeth again, paying particular attention to the areas with plaque. Keep brushing until all the dye is gone.
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Repeat the above steps to make sure you've taken care of all the plaque,
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Tips & Warnings
Some disclosing agents come as a rinse or swab instead of in tablet form. With these, you have to rinse or swab the surfaces of your teeth instead of chewing a tablet. Otherwise, they are exactly the same.
If you have trouble seeing the backs of your teeth, shine a flashlight into your mouth while using the dental mirror.
Some disclosing agents can stain your mouth for hours and your clothes permanently. If you use them at night, the ink should fade from your mouth by morning.
