Posted by Larry Hoover on September 9, 2004, at 9:09:15
In reply to Re: Oral hygeine chat..., posted by Cass on September 7, 2004, at 20:48:52
I'm just going to pop in here with some random thoughts....
The idea that calculus (plaque) is bacterial poop is....uhh....not supported by science.
Saliva contains calcium and phosphate in sufficiently high concentrations that the solution is super-saturated. It wants to crystallize out, but the critical requirements for that to happen are governed by pH (acid/base balance) and the presence of nucleation centres.
Your saliva is constantly remineralizing your teeth. Precarious lesions (soft spots in teeth that always precede the creation of a cavity) can heal, if you correct the local chemistry around the soft spot. Bacteria release acid as they metabolize sugars, so cleaning away the bacteria gets rid of the acid, which lets the saliva remineralize the soft area. That's why brushing is so important after sweets. In particular, gooey sweets that stick to teeth.
Plaque is caused by alkalinization of the micro-environment, and/or the presence of a different set of bacteria than the acid-formers. These bacteria can serve as crystallization centers for calcium phosphate crystals, in the interestingly named form of a substance called brushite. Once those crystals form, they then serve as templates for more crystals to deposit, so the more often you remove the existing crystals, the better you are at keeping them from getting large enough to injure the gums.
Water-pik appliances are effective not only because they wash away these various nasties, but because they also neutralize the pH by dilution. Flushing, quite literally.
For a hopefully not too complex over-view, see:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/dental/oralbiol/oralenv/tutorials/calciumphosphate.htmSpraying the teeth with hydrogen peroxide is not something to do with any regularity, unless you want to get caps on all your teeth. It dissolves the enamel. Moreover, the peroxide (and reaction products) is conducted into the tooth, where it can cause nerve damage. This will first manifest itself as sensitivity to heat or cold. After that, the nerve can die, and with it, the tooth. Discuss this with your dentist.
http://www.man-health-magazine-online.com/tooth-whitener.html
As for the white stuff on the tongue....I know one thing, it's got nothing whatsoever to do with detox.
The epithelial cells (specialized skin) that form part of the taste-bud receptors produce a very corrugated rough surface. As with all epithelial cells, they are sloughed off about every 2-4 weeks. When they're healthy and alive, they're pretty much transparent, and you can see the reddish tint of the blood below the surface. When they die, they get all frayed and ratty, and they become opaque (whitish).
At any point in time, but especially when the cells are shed, bacteria can invade these little coves and harbours and frayed bits, and go to work. This crew is one of the most likely to cause bad breath, but there is no link to detox. The sloughed cells, with their bacteria, are swallowed. They become "food", in out stomachs. Where's the detox?
I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:385354
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20040729/msgs/388619.html