Supertooth and Good Food Friends © Plaque Watch School Project for better tooth care. Home * Brush * Floss * Chewing * Experiments * Supertooth book

Brushing
Few cavities occur at gum margins where the brush can remove plaque and saliva have access to neutralise acid and repair tooth.
Food dye can colour plaque on teeth. Brushing, wiping a cloth over teeth or chewing fibre like celery string, removes the coloured plaque. Plaque bacteria coloured with red food dye below, cause bleeding gums and change trapped sugar to acid that demineralises tooth.

The brush cannot reach plaque and trapped food between teeth and inside pits and fissures in grooves on chewing surfaces where almost all cavities occur. Flossing and chewing skills are just as important as brushing skills.

Flossing skills clean between teeth and chewing skills can help saliva dilute sugar, neutralise acid and repair tooth. 

Chewing skills before eating, can also block food from being trapped while eating and help displace trapped food after eating. Also chewing skills can deliver fluoride toothpaste between teeth and inside grooves to help neutralise acid and toughen demineralised tooth.