Plaque Tablets – Mode of action
Usually plaque tablets consist of the natural colorant erythrosine, which is comparable to a common food color. This colorant is completely harmless to the tooth substance and gums as well as to the internal organs. The coloring substance of the plaque tablets reacts with various substances of the plaque and gives it a visible color. Most manufacturers offer products that are not only able to make plaque visible in hard-to-reach areas, but also react to older (older than 48 hours) and fresh plaque with a different color.
Plaque Tablets – Application
The application of the plaque tablets is basically very easy. Ideally, one tablet should be chewed after normal tooth brushing. Within a few minutes, those areas that have not been carefully cleaned will take on a red or purple color.
Older plaque is usually much darker than fresh plaque. These areas of the tooth surface can then be specifically cleaned. The colorants of the plaque tablets can be easily removed with a toothbrush (or interdental brush or dental floss) and some toothpaste.
Especially in the field of oral hygiene suitable for children, the use of plaque tablets has proven to be highly effective over time. Children learn in a simple way how thorough brushing should be. In addition, the colorful coloring of the teeth is a lot of fun for the children and encourages them to brush their teeth with pleasure.
Since the coloring of the oral mucosa and lips can occur briefly after the application of plaque tablets, they should not be used shortly before important appointments.In addition, it is imperative that care be taken during application to avoid soiling of clothing and/or towels. Even if the dyes used are food colouring similar compounds, it may not be possible to remove them from textiles without leaving residues. In the dental practice, more and more often such plaque tablets are used which show a color change only under UV light.
Risks Basically, when using plaque tablets, it should be noted that these should not be used daily. The coloring of the plaque may only be carried out at regular intervals for self-checking the results of the tooth brushing.
