From: peace@alphalink.com.au
Date: 6/22/00
Time: 10:27:46 PM
Remote Name: 203.62.183.3
Simple experiments with a glass model of a fissure help understand the complexity of pit and fissure caries.
The model is made by gluing two strips of clear glass together with silicone down each side and across the middle like a H, leaving a pocket open at each end.
One end fills when pushed into a small 35mm film container of the chewy celery fibre and food dye representing sugar.
Brushing, swishing in water and pushing the end into chewing gum in water makes no or little difference.
Pushing into chewy celery fibre and water washes the dye out.
Pushing into chewy celery fibre and cheese forces cheese inside the fissure.
Push into the fibre and dye and note that it is more difficult to remove the cheese, which acts as a barrier between plaque bacteria and sugar if used just before meals and snacks to prevent acid attack.
These experiments have shown the chewy fibre of celery couldbe replaced by other natural or manufactured fibre in developing nations where most of the population cannot afford a toothbrush, which is of limited value anyway.
Chewing Dental Foam with noncariogenic foods like cheese or dental agents can form a barrier between plaque bacteria protect teeth before eating and remove food and plaque after eating and force saliva and dental agents around teeth and inside pits and fissures to neutralise acid and repair demineraised tooth. It is important to wait at lest two hours between meals or snacks to allow time for remineralisation.
Some interesting facts. Proper brushing more than once a day is of little value. The brush cannot reach inside pits and fissures where most holes develop. Children that chew fluoride tablets have a higher reduction of pit and fissure caries than children that swallow the tablets. Pit and fissure sealants give a significant reduction in caries but can break down. Fresh fibre foods reduce decay rate. Plaque bacteria can double every 20 minutes Fluoride, saliva and Recaldent from milk can remineralise tooth. Always allow 2 hours between meals or snacks for remineralisation.
Suggested personal tooth care. Brush gum margins (between gums and teeth) with fluoride toothpaste and floss between teeth, before breakfast to reduce plaque and prevent gum disease and limit decay on those surfaces.
Chew fibre like celery with agents like cheese before eating to reduce plaque and form a barrier between plaque bacteria and sugars inside pits and fissures and prevent acid attack.
Chew fibre like celery or dental foam after eating to remove food and reduce plaque and force saliva and or dental agents like Recaldent (a derivative of milk) to neutralise acid and repair demineralised tooth, particularly inside pits and fissures.
Swish saliva and move your tongue around tooth surfaces a few times between meals and before bed to prevent saliva stagnation and tartar deposits mostly behind lower front teeth.
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