FAQs on Cavities and Strong Teeth

Plaque vs Tartar

Plaque is a thick film on teeth, and is comprised of saliva, bad germs and trapped food particles that collect on the gum line. The acid from plaque can attack teeth soon after meals. If it is not cleaned, it can break through enamel and lead to cavities. Plaque also leads to receding gums and red, swollen gums that bleed when brushed. If plaque is not removed every day, it can harden into tartar.

Thus, tartar is plaque that has been left untreated and has hardened on the surface of the teeth. This tartar is hard, crusty and porous. It is yellow or brownish in colour and appears on the gum line. Tartar build-up causes cavities, tooth decay and tooth loss, as well as gum problems. It continues to grow and calcify if not removed. Tartar can only be removed from your teeth by dentists and their professional tools. Brushing, flossing, rinsing with LISTERINE® mouthwash and using tartar-control toothpaste can prevent this.

What Is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element known to prevent tooth decay when ingested or applied to teeth as a topical solution. It is one of the best ways to protect teeth and maintain oral health as fluoride can help reduce the number of cavities in teeth. The acid in plaque leads to mineral loss in the tooth (demineralisation), which leads to tooth decay. The formation of cavities, however, can be reversed by remineralisation, or the deposit of minerals on damaged areas of the tooth. Application of topical fluoride can speed up this restoration of lost minerals.

When fluoride is ingested by the stomach and intestines, it is absorbed by the body to make teeth stronger. It is often found in drinking water in high enough quantities to reduce cavities, depending on which area of the country you are in (and whether you drink tap or filtered/bottled water). You can also get small amounts of fluoride by eating certain foods, such as spinach, carrots, asparagus, most seafood, tea and food prepared in fluoridated water, or by using a fluoride toothpaste and LISTERINE® fluoride rinse.

Are Baby Teeth As Strong As Adult Teeth?

It is a less commonly-known fact that baby teeth are less dense than permanent teeth and wear down faster. They are also whiter and brighter than permanent teeth (also called second teeth or adult teeth). Adult teeth are naturally a little more yellow in colour.

Are Baby Teeth Whiter Than Adult Teeth?

While baby teeth are whiter than permanent teeth, the enamel and dentin layers in baby teeth are thinner than those in adult teeth. The pulp is also bigger relative to the rest of the tooth. So, when your child gets a cavity, it can reach the nerve of the tooth much faster, which makes dental check-ups for children extremely important. Baby teeth also have shorter roots and are not anchored as well in the bone, allowing them to fall out more easily. This also gives the root of permanent teeth more room to grow underneath the baby teeth.

Do Dentures Need Mouthwash?

Yes, you should rinse your dentures and brush away food particles and debris twice daily.

Tips on how to take care of dentures (or false teeth):

• Use dental tablets that dissolve in water and soak dentures in the cleaning solution in a container.
• Always clean dentures over a soft towel or basin half full of water, as they can be slippery and easily break if they fall.
• Brush with a soft-bristle brush in lukewarm water. Thoroughly clean the denture.
• Rinse with LISTERINE® mouthwash afterwards to keep the mouth feeling fresh and clean.
• When not in your mouth, dentures should be soaked in mouthwash.

Should My Child Soak Dental Appliances in Mouthwash?

Cleaning your dental appliances is just as important as cleaning your teeth. It aids in the prevention of tooth decay as it helps in rinsing out the food that is stuck on the appliances.

To keep the germ damage minimal when wearing dental appliances, like braces, many orthodontists advice people who wear orthodontic appliances to rinse twice daily with LISTERINE® mouthwash, but the appliances themselves do not necessarily need to be soaked in mouthwash.