Beautiful smile always attracts attention, but often it is spoiled by plaque and stains on the teeth. Even if all the rules of hygiene are followed, tartar is in no hurry to leave the teeth and can cause damage not only to the whiteness of the teeth, but also to health. If plaque is easy to remove by yourself at home, as it has a thin film of food debris and bacteria that live in oral cavity, then the stone formed on the teeth is removed only under conditions dental office, because it is a more solid (mineralized) deposits.
What is tartar?
Hard lime deposits gradually appear on the tooth enamel. Basically, they begin to form on the neck of the tooth, in hard-to-reach places where the brush does not penetrate well and between the teeth.
Plaque forms immediately after eating, and after 12 hours, bacteria begin their activity, which in the oral cavity great amount. Their construction material- carbohydrates. Of these, microorganisms fasten a solid frame, which is attached to the teeth, is isolated in parallel sulfuric acid which leads to caries. Bacteria grow, and deposits on the teeth increase and thicken. The stone becomes yellowish. Such terrible diseases of the oral cavity as gingivitis and periodontitis are directly associated with the formation of a stone.
If a thorough cleaning of the oral cavity is not carried out, then after a week soft plaque crystallizes, then minerals are deposited on it and it turns into tartar. The completion of stone formation occurs by about six months, which is why it is necessary to seek help at least twice a year until its final formation.
Tartar classification
Dental stones, a photo of the species is located below, differ in the place of their localization.
Supragingival deposits (above the gum) often located with reverse side tooth and are clearly visible, have a whitish or yellowish tint.
Subgingival plaques are located under the gum, inside the gum in gingival or periodontal pockets, they can only be seen by a dentist. Subgingival calculus forms after the age of 40 and is accompanied by tooth loss.
The negative impact of plaque on health
Dental deposits not only spoil appearance teeth, but also harm the health of the oral cavity. After all, more than 90% of these plaques are billions of microorganisms that multiply in the mouth. This army can not only cause infection internal organs, but changing its properties, it turns from neutral bacteria into pathogenic microflora, which causes serious inflammatory diseases gums This leads to the destruction of tissues, exposure of the roots, which continue to experience Negative influence deposits.
The roots of the teeth are attached to the bone base of the upper and lower jaws with the help of connective fibers. The stone, penetrating deep into the gums, carries its destructive effect in the connection of the tooth with the jaw, which leads to the formation of periodontitis.
Bacteria found in tartar produce acids that adversely affect tooth enamel, causing caries. With the development of tartar on the surface of the enamel, saliva, being an antiseptic, cannot get on it and protect it, neutralizing the action of acids that are formed when chewing food.
Causes of plaques on teeth
To successfully fight the disease, you need to know the cause of its occurrence. Forewarned is forearmed. After all, it is easier to follow preventive measures than to treat the disease.
The main reason for the appearance of a stone is insufficient oral hygiene.
- Brushing your teeth lasts less than 5 minutes.
- Use of poor quality or inappropriate toothpaste.
- Ignorance or non-compliance with the rules of brushing teeth.
All these factors together or separately lead to the formation of plaque on the enamel, which develops into tartar. If after every meal use dental floss to remove food debris between the teeth, and then thoroughly clean, then you can ensure their health. In addition, visit the dentist 2 times a year for professional cleaning.
Factors favorable for the development of bacteria:
- eating a large amount of carbonated drinks and carbohydrates, the habit of snacking;
- diseases of internal organs;
- the daily diet consists of soft foods;
- violation of the chewing process;
- bad habits such as alcohol and smoking.
The risk factors for this disease include all of humanity. Careful adherence to the recommendations of dentists and regular oral hygiene able to prevent its development and maintain health.
What does tartar look like, how to remove it
You need to take a mirror and look at the inside of the tooth, almost everyone has white, yellow or brown plaque at the roots or between the teeth. This plaque is not felt and is not removed at home. Indicates a disease bad smell out of the mouth, loose teeth and bleeding gums.
The old-fashioned method, which is almost never used today, is cleaning with hand tools - hammers and hooks, they beat off and clean the enamel from the stone. This method was unpleasant and painful for patients, so it was replaced by other, more modern ones.
The ultrasonic method involves the impact special tool on stone areas, while healthy enamel is not affected. Ultrasonic vibrations p destroy plaque painlessly, while cleaning and disinfecting the subgingival area, gums and the entire tooth.
This method removes any stone, even accumulated during long period time. In this case, it is treated with a special softening solution, after which it is cleaned off the surface very easily. After the surface of the enamel is cleaned, it is polished, removing various irregularities so that the surface is even and smooth, thereby preventing the re-emergence of the stone, because food debris and microorganisms accumulate in roughness and cracks. Then dentist strengthens enamel with fluoride and calcium, they penetrate microscopic cracks and protect the enamel from caries and further destruction with the formation of a stone.
Laser stone removal allows contactless, effectively and quickly remove all deposits on enamel. With this method, the impact is directed to the water molecule in the stone.
Is the tooth cleaning procedure painful?
Modern methods of removing a stone from a tooth are as comfortable and practically painless as possible, especially laser removal. At ultrasonic method there is slight pain, But local anesthesia solves this problem.
Tartar
Prevention of bacterial deposits in the oral cavity
Hygiene basics:
- teeth should be brushed after every meal - this is the basic rule.
- before using brush and paste need to clean the interdental space, floss will help with this - dental floss, because the bristles of the brush do not cope with this task.
- you need to brush your teeth correctly: use sweeping movements from the gum to the tooth.
- oral care outside the home is based on the use of floss and chewing gum. But chewing gum cannot resist the formation of tartar.
Hygienic manipulations to prevent dental plaque can slow down or even prevent the formation of tartar. But periodic monitoring of the state of the oral cavity by the dentist should become a good habit.
Tartar is a fairly common problem that more people face than it might seem at first glance. It is characterized by the appearance of dark or yellow spots, which are nothing more than mineralized plaque. Due to the fact that this plaque was not removed in time during the dental cleaning procedure, it begins to harden and a stone plaque is formed, characterized as supragingival or subgingival. This phenomenon You need to be treated by a dentist and the sooner the better. Otherwise, you can get not only bad smell from the mouth, but also such diseases of the gums and oral cavity as gingivitis, periodontitis, caries, as well as various diseases of the mucous membrane.
How does plaque form?
In the oral cavity of each there is enough a large number of various kinds of bacteria. Regardless of the situation, they continuously multiply. It should be noted that even perfectly cleaned teeth after a few hours begin to “accumulate” bacterial plaque. These bacteria multiply to a greater extent when a person has just eaten, which is due to small food residues that are actively processed by existing bacteria.
To reproduce and increase their numbers, bacteria do not need a lot of food residues, which often remain between the teeth - an invisible protein and carbohydrate film will be enough. That is why dentists recommend that their patients brush their teeth no later than 10 minutes after eating. In addition, you can rinse your mouth with decoctions of herbs, which, among other things, remove inflammation of the gums.
If this recommendation is neglected, then soft plaque will begin to harden after 10-16 hours. Next comes the gradual petrification of uncleaned plaque, which is why supragingival tartar appears (we recommend reading:). To remove it, it is almost always necessary to contact the clinic, since it cannot be removed with a simple brush and paste. If the gum is inflamed along with the petrification, then it is necessary to urgently contact a doctor.
Reasons for the accumulation of plaque and the appearance of tartar
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The reasons for the accumulation of plaque are numerous and at the same time quite obvious. The main factors in the formation of tartar include:
It must be said that in the prevailing cases, tartar is formed for the simple reason that a person does not pay enough attention to his oral cavity - he brushes his teeth irregularly or does not do this at all, which happens very often. If you suspect that you have or have this disease, then determine the problem yourself and understand how it looks, as well as being formed, photos and videos for the article will help.
Types of dental deposits by location
The very first stage of the disease is very similar to the onset of caries on the teeth.
However, there is still a difference and it lies in the fact that the stone, as a rule, appears only on the front incisors and canines, without capturing chewing teeth. The stone has the shape of a yellow-brown rim that is present on the neck of the tooth.
Each person decides for himself where and how to treat the stone - at home or in the clinic.
Tartar is classified, depending on the type and exact location, and can be:
- supragingival, which looks like clay and is easily removed with a dental instrument;
- subgingival, formed under the gum, and to remove such a stone, its incision is often necessary.
In addition to dark plaque on the teeth, the disease has other signs that should always alert:
- bad breath, similar to the smell of pus;
- blood during the procedure of brushing teeth;
- gum blue or red;
- pain in the gums and their severe inflammation.
What hard plaque looks like: before and after photos
Usually to remove hard plaque V clinical setting a scaler is used, as well as other devices. In general, stones on the teeth today can be treated with such popular methods:
- you can get rid of tartar with ultrasound;
- by laser removal;
- due to chemical action;
- in a manner characterized as air-abrasive.
Ultrasonic teeth cleaning
To remove a stone formation directly by ultrasound, a special device is used that has an ultrasonic tip. Due to vibrations with the help of this device, the tooth can be perfectly cleaned from hardened plaque. It should be noted that main feature This method lies in the fact that the procedure for the destruction of accumulations is completely painless. In addition, there is absolutely no harm from it for tooth enamel.
The advantage of ultrasonic cleaning, which helps to get rid of the problem and remove plaque, is safety. Among other things, there is also a positive by-effect, consisting in a barely noticeable bleaching.
Laser removal
The laser, as you know, is widely used in the medical industry today, and dentistry is no exception. During such a procedure, the laser acts exclusively on the tartar, and it is not capable of causing any harm to the enamel. Due to the fact that the laser device has several modes of operation, it can be used to easily remove not only hard stone, but also soft plaque (we recommend reading:). Exactly this remedy It is used in order to effectively and most conveniently remove subgingival tartar. Laser treatment is usually followed by a polishing procedure.
It must be said that laser method plaque destruction is more acceptable than ultrasonic. This advantage lies in the fact that there is completely no direct contact with the treated surface, due to which the gum cannot be damaged.
Chemical exposure
Remove tartar with this method a special chemical composition will help, which helps soften hard plaque - the doctor applies it to the surface of the affected tooth. After some time, this composition is removed from the tooth directly together with the plaque, using special dental instruments.
This method has few advantages, since the chemical compositions are very harmful to the teeth and enamel. It is for this reason that in dentistry it is used in the most extreme cases.
Air-abrasive removal method
Another method of stone removal is air-abrasive. It is characterized by the implementation of a certain pressure on the teeth, which is necessary for applying a special solution. This solution consists of a liquid and, without fail, abrasive compounds. Thanks to this procedure, yellow and black plaque from the teeth, as well as white, similar to caries, is removed very well.
It should be noted that in the prevailing cases, the air-abrasive method used to remove hard plaque is used in combination with ultrasound treatment, namely after it. After the ultrasonic procedure, plaque remains often remain between the teeth, which are removed using the method described above. As an independent procedure, it is used only in cases where tartar is at one of the very initial stages.
Prevention of tartar formation
Prevention of tartar formation, in the very first place, provides for good and timely oral hygiene, which must be carried out with a high-quality brush and paste. Often, tartar can be prevented by getting rid of yellow-brown plaque. In general, for the prevention of tartar, methods such as:
Oral health is something that must always be taken care of in order to prevent serious problems in the future. A thorough examination, regular visits to the dentist will help you find out what tartar looks like, whether there are options for getting rid of it to maintain a beautiful smile.
What is a stone on the teeth
When asked what tartar is, dentists answer this way: it is formed from plaque, which is caused by bacteria living in the mouth. Plaque looks like a thin film that adheres tightly to the gums, as the thickness increases, which becomes more and more noticeable, hard, turns into tartar. If white plaque on the teeth can still be removed at home by thorough cleaning and proper oral hygiene, then the deposit is removed only in specialized clinics.
This unaesthetic defect occurs on the inside of chewing teeth, which are difficult to reach for normal brushing and paste. Education looks like dark patina on the teeth. In children, rusty spots can form on milk teeth, and in smokers, areas of enamel look like black inclusions. If you examine the composition of tartar, then there will be leftover food, solid salts.
Signs of appearance
Determining that you have tartar is difficult, because it is formed from plaque, initially invisible. As the film size increases, more plaque appears. bright color, nonspecific for enamel. The incisors become rough and after cleaning do not have that smooth surface to which the person is accustomed. If you suspect the formation of this defect in yourself, then consult a doctor for professional removal, because the disease leads to serious consequences: inflammation bone tissue incisor, caries, gingivitis and periodontitis.
Why does tartar form?
Plaque, which is formed in every person every day, with proper hygiene is cleaned with a paste and brush, and once a year for professional cleaning. If you neglect dental care, care for them incorrectly or in insufficient quantities, then plaque will turn into stone. The formation of hard deposits is affected by the food consumed by a person - in the absence of solid components, the disease will affect your enamel.
In addition to improper hygiene and food intake, hardening of plaque can be caused due to a violation of calcium metabolism within the body, improper chewing - when food is rubbed only on one side of the jaw, or the body's tendency to form these deposits - an individual factor. Hard plaque can affect gum disease, cause inflammation or soreness, so it is important to remove it in time, preventing advanced cases.
Classification of dental deposits
There is an accepted classification of deposits on the teeth, where they distinguish:
- Mineralized dental deposits (supragingival and subgingival stones);
- Non-mineralized deposits (pellicle, plaque, soft plaque and food debris or detritus).
Pellicle - looks like a thin film, not visible to the naked eye and removed by strong abrasives. When bacteria multiply on the pellicle, a plaque forms - looks like a colorless formation that is removed by scraping. Due to the fact that microorganisms grow in the plaque and release toxins, after removal of the plaque, a focus of demineralization and tissue destruction can be found.
Soft plaque looks like a yellowish substance that sticks to the enamel loosely and is removed plain water. To prevent its growth, it is recommended to use professional cleaning. Detritus appears as leftover food, sweet or fatty, that can decompose, become a source of infection, and are removed by brushing and meticulous oral hygiene.
subgingival stone
What a subgingival calculus looks like: It is not easy to detect this defect, because the location is localized in the periodontal pocket under the gum. In appearance, it is a very dense and hard formation, in color from dark brown to greenish-black. The formation of this type is associated with a pathological gingival pocket, so the occurrence of a defect is possible only in the cervical part of the incisor or on its surface.
supragingival
What a supragingival calculus looks like: This defect is easy to spot because it is located in the area above the crest of the gingival margin. Hue this deposit- from white to white-yellow, in smokers it can be colored more intensely. This defect is removed by scraping or chipping. The type of deposit is found in all people, increasing in size with age, and the most popular locations are near salivary ducts.
How to get rid of stones on the teeth
Tartar on the teeth can only be removed by professional procedures at the dentist, because these hard formations cannot be removed at home. The dense texture of the formations suggests the use various methods treatment and removal: chipping, laser exposure or chemicals, ultrasound. Which of these methods is suitable for a particular patient, the doctor decides after an examination.
Dental cleaning
Dental deposits are removed under conditions of professional intervention as follows:
- mechanical method– or just chipping, which can be painful. During the process, the dentist takes out the stone with special hooks, grinds and polishes the enamel so that food particles and bacterial residues do not stick to the smooth surface. An alternative to instruments is painless mechanical cleaning with an air jet using medicinal mixture acting as an abrasive.
- Chemical method- used when other methods are not possible. In this case, the stone is affected strong acids and alkalis, which soften the formation, are allowed to be scraped off. This method is called dangerous because of the possible impact on the mucous membrane.
- physical method- exposure to ultrasound. The method is simple, painless, based on the selection of the oscillation frequency, but is contraindicated in people with diseases of the cardiac system.
- laser method- a modern technique that is completely safe for enamel, based on grinding a stone with a laser and removing its residues with a jet of water and air. As a result of the process, all solid formations that looked like dark clusters in the photo are completely removed.
Tartar (calculus dentalis) is a growth with high content mineral elements, which is located directly on the surface of the pellicle. When examining the oral cavity, it can be found near the cervical area of the tooth: a rough neoplasm of yellowish or gray color- this is the stone.
The stone grows into the alveolar area, begins to exfoliate the gum and increases the periodontal pocket. If left untreated, the formation can lead to caries, gingivitis and periodontitis.
The first symptoms of the appearance of a stone are bleeding and itching of the gums, an unpleasant odor from the mouth and roughness of the enamel.
Stone on the teeth begins its formation with the appearance of soft protein masses on the surface of the teeth. Hard growths begin to form in places of localization of soft deposits in the absence of self-cleansing from chewing food.
Soft plaque is a loose whitish accumulation above the base of the gums, contains streptococci, lactobacilli and other anaerobic microorganisms that break down collagen. According to scientists, the purpose of plaque is that it is a physical and bacteriological protection of the enamel surface from pathogenic microflora. But as a result of objective conditions, individual characteristics negative transformations occur in the biochemical composition of the plaque.
In the process of their development, deposits are increasingly introduced into the gingival sulcus, strengthened, saturated with minerals, acquire a dirty yellow tint and block the access of enamel to oxygen. The anoxic space becomes a favorable microclimate for the intensive reproduction of anaerobic organisms. pathogenic bacteria which eventually leads to inflammation of the gums. The inflammatory process in the gum tissue is a natural reaction of the body to the toxic waste products of anaerobic microorganisms.
The presence of microorganisms in soft deposits provokes the release of acid, which is the cause of the destruction of enamel, and the appearance of caries.
Due to the mineralization of soft deposits with elements of phosphorus, calcium and fluorine, the build-up hardens. The period of transformation of soft deposits into tartar lasts approximately 3 months.
Important! “Tatar often begins to appear in adolescence, this is due to a hormonal surge, in which there is a significant growth of pathogenic bacteria due to enhanced nutrition with hormonal regulators.
Classification of stone deposits
The stones on the teeth differ in location:
- The supragingival calculus is located directly above the ridge edge of the gum tissue and is easily diagnosed by examining the oral cavity. This is a solid growth of a milky or yellowish hue, the color scheme may change due to eating habits or smoking.
- Subgingival stone appears under the gum tissue and is localized on the root shell. It cannot be determined with a simple examination of the teeth; only a dentist can diagnose an outgrowth through probing the gum grooves.
The composition of dental deposits above and below the gum is approximately the same and consists of:
- hydroxyapatites,
- magnesium apatite,
- brushita,
- calcium phosphates;
- epithelium;
- pathogenic microorganisms.
The process of development of hard growths
Pathogenic microorganisms due to enzymatic amplification are attached to the pellicle. Over time, colonies of bacteria unite, dense bacterial structures begin to appear, in which the microbes themselves can perform different functions. Stone calcination begins with the modification of an amorphous bacterial colony by its crystallization and subsequent layering of new substances.
The mechanism of mineralization is a structured interaction of bacterial, physicochemical and biological factors. With the participation of pathogenic microorganisms of precipitation from the salivary fluid, the formation of hydroxyapatites and other needle-like crystals occurs. Salt precipitation is caused by the action of decomposition products anaerobic bacteria.
Scientists have established a relationship between salivation and calcification of dental plaque. Daily rate secreted salivary fluid should average about 2 liters. If the amount of excretions is exceeded, then the most intensive deposition of lime begins.
Important! “The stone begins to form on the enamel structure as early as two hours after eating, and after a few days it occupies more than half of the crown area.”
The etiology of the development of a stone growth
In addition to the composition and intensity of salivation, unilateral chewing of food plays a significant role in the formation of the stone, this occurs in the absence of antagonist teeth or due to inflammation and sensitivity of the gums when biting, which prevents self-cleaning of plaque.
Causes of hard plaque can be in the wrong position of the dentition, poorly placed fillings, and they can also be a consequence of the use of orthodontic prostheses.
For the formation of hard tartar big influence has a diet: it is impossible for tooth growth to appear when eating hard and coarse foods, and vice versa, their development is accelerated by soft food.
Lack of careful hygiene care behind the oral cavity also creates optimal conditions for rapid education stone.
What causes hard stone growth:
- disorganization of metabolism;
- irregular hygiene procedures;
- improperly selected brush for hygiene procedures;
- the predominance of soft foods in the diet;
- taking medications;
- diseases of the stomach and intestines;
- pH level in saliva;
- microcirculation in gum tissues;
- excessive salivation and salivary fluid viscosity;
- malocclusion.
Symptoms of the appearance of hard stone growths
supragingival stone located in the medial areas directly above the gum tissue. The stone has a milky or beige hue (the color changes from coloring pigments), a solid consistency. The growth on the crown of the tooth refers to salivary formations: since the minerals and organic elements of saliva saturate the plaque and thereby form a hardening. The stone can be located on some or all surfaces, create a bridge arc, and in the absence of antagonists, affect the occlusal (chewing) part.
The maximum location of deposits is opposite the parotid canal and in the lingual region near the excretory section of the submandibular salivary gland.
subgingival stone can form in the gingival or periodontal grooves. The deposit is not visible during examination, therefore, pocket probing is used for diagnosis. The stone located under the gum is beige or green tint, it is firmly fixed on the surface of the cervical region of the root and has a solid texture.
The gum substance saturates with minerals and crystallizes the plaque, and since the sulcular fluid is identical in structure to the blood serum, it is classified as a serum variety.
Important! “The appearance of stones is often accompanied by bleeding gums, bad breath, and tooth sensitivity can increase.”
Therapeutic dentistry
Professional therapy includes complex resection of hard and soft growths different methods depending on the etiology of education. The stone is removed by mechanical and hardware methods from the surface of the enamel and in the gingival and periodontal grooves.
Soft dental growths are removed by rinsing antiseptics using hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate.
To remove hard plaque manually, the following tools are used:
- sharp excavator;
- silicone polishers;
- curettes (curette spoons);
- handiblaster - a special dental powder for softening stone build-up.
The process of removing stones occurs in a certain order:
- teeth are coated with a special solution to soften tartar;
- cleaning is carried out from the bottom row of the distal surface of the right figure eight;
- growths are removed in the medial direction to the premolars;
- the next step is to clean the left side of the dentition and complete the procedure with the lower premolars.
- the teeth of the upper arch are cleaned from the distal surface of the eighth left molar, after which they move to the right side and finish with the premolars.
Important! “It is desirable to remove dental deposits in dental clinic and at least once every six months, then it will be possible to prevent the formation of a stone.
Hardware procedures for cleaning teeth
Air flow– sandblaster, removes tartar medium degree hardness. The cleaning process occurs due to the fact that, under strong pressure, an abrasive mixture of sodium bicarbonate, air jet and water is sent through the tip to the surface of the teeth.
ultrasonic cleaning- a device with a scaler tip produces ultrasound, with the help of which stone growths are crushed into the smallest elements. The device destroys deposits on the surface of the crown and under the gum.
Laser cleaning- is based on the use of long laser waves, which remove stone deposits layer by layer. The procedure has not only cleansing, but also anti-inflammatory and healing effect.
Consequences of tartar
Tartar brings maximum harm not only to enamel, but also to the gums, jawbone and general condition of the body.
With prolonged exposure to tartar on the gum surface, gingivitis begins to develop. The occurrence of gingivitis occurs due to a violation of the normal circulation of fluid in the gum tissue. Untreated gingivitis often leads to the formation of periodontitis, which leads to bleeding gums, suppuration, exposure of the tooth root and subsequent tooth loss.
Enamel is also susceptible to the harmful effects of hard deposits. Due to numerous factors, including oxygen starvation, the presence of anaerobic bacteria and acid damage, caries begins to develop.
The mucous membrane in the presence of stone deposits becomes subject to development inflammation, the formation of stomatitis, erosion and follicles.
Also, dental deposits can provoke the development of diseases. respiratory tract, stomach and intestines and reduce the body's resistance to pathogenic bacteria.
Timely removal of plaque is an important measure to prevent periodontitis, gingivitis, caries and many more diseases. Tartar can be considered as an infectious lever that can trigger the mechanism of a chronic disease at any time.
Preventive measures
For the preformation of dental outgrowths into calculus, the reasons can be varied, but in any case, it is necessary to pay attention to hygiene procedures first.
Daily brushing with a hard toothbrush, an abrasive toothpaste, and flossing after each meal will reduce the risk of calculus by 50%.
Important! "The plaque is not washed off with water and is not completely eliminated with a poor-quality hygienic procedure, therefore, when choosing hygienic brushes, it is recommended to give preference to products with hard bristles and hard rounded edges."
Balanced diet, reduced amount of soft, rich in carbohydrates eating and the predominance of healthy, solid foods for thorough chewing and cleaning of the teeth will help prevent the mineralization of plaque.
If any pathologies appear in the oral cavity: increased sensitivity of the teeth, bleeding gums, the appearance of bad breath - you should immediately contact your dentist to identify the cause and timely treatment pathology.
Tartar is plaque hardened over time. In its composition, salts of calcium, phosphorus and iron, bacteria, food residues are found. You can clearly see what a tartar is in the photo before and after its removal. After the completion of professional processing, the tooth returns to its original shape, restores color.
Causes of hardened plaque
The main reason for the formation of tartar is incorrect or insufficient hygiene. Shoe too soft brush, ignoring a suitable dental floss, using poor-quality paste - all these are the reasons for the appearance of tartar in humans.
Apart from behavioral features, doctors also identify some physiological reasons:
- chewing on one side due to orthodontic or dental problems;
- incorrect functioning of internal organs, impaired metabolism - this is what causes tartar in people with impaired salt metabolism;
- abnormal position of the teeth, due to which at home it is not possible to completely remove soft plaque from the enamel;
- the natural rough surface of the teeth, contributing to the formation of calculus and plaque.
Orthopedic structures are also included in the list of what causes tartar to form on the teeth.
Origin mechanism
When chewing, most of the surface of the teeth is cleaned "on its own" - from contact with solid food. However, not all places are equally accessible. On the necks of the teeth and on the roots without proper oral hygiene, deposits of bacteria and food debris gradually accumulate. The mucus that is naturally present in the oral cavity sticks them together, turning them into a viscous mass that is difficult to remove. Subsequently, the mass hardens and forms a strong plaque on the teeth.
Stages
Outwardly, such formations are not immediately noticeable. Appearing for the first time, microbial plaque mineralizes within 12-16 hours. The curing time depends on the physiological characteristics of the organism. The only way to stop the process is to thoroughly clean the oral cavity, including the tongue and gums.
Photo: dark tartar looks like this
At the next stage, dental deposits may also not give themselves away. And only during professional cleaning teeth, the doctor sees slight darkening, changes in the shade of the enamel. At this stage, apatite crystals are formed, formed chemical reaction between phosphate and calcium. It lasts from 40 to 60 days.
At the next stage dark spots visible to the naked eye, they can be found on the outside and inside close to the gums. The duration of the formation of visible deposits varies from 5 to 6 months.
The last phase of tartar formation is the saturation and strengthening of the crystals. During this period, the germination of hard plaque in the gum pocket is possible. And stones in the gums are the cause of periodontitis.
How to recognize
In order not to waste time on independent research, studying how the stone looks on the teeth, it is recommended to regularly seek dental care. In most cases this effective prevention tartar.
Small deposits can easily be made visible with a cotton swab moistened with iodine. But only dentists can fix their presence in periodontal pockets.
At the last stage, several symptoms appear at once:
- smell from the mouth;
- mobility of one or more teeth;
- redness, cyanosis and bleeding of the gums;
- discomfort in the process of chewing food;
- increased sensitivity is a response to citric acid, hot meals, cold drinks.
Often, tartar has uneven sharp borders, which injures the tongue., there are unpleasant sensations that make articulation difficult.
Classification
Tartar and the causes of its occurrence are different. In classical dentistry, it is customary to distinguish two types: subgingival and supragingival. Each of them has its own characteristics and is determined by different diagnostic methods.
Subgingival calculus
This type of plaque is recognized as especially "insidious", as it is formed outside the visibility zone: below the upper level of the gums. Dentists determine subgingival plaque with a probe. In addition, it is clearly visible during gum recession, when the roots and necks of the teeth are revealed due to the reduction of soft tissues. Practice shows that the subgingival stone in most situations has dark color and high hardness.
supragingival calculus
This type of tartar is located above the edge of the gums. In most cases supragingival plaque is hard or clay-like and has a light yellowish tint. For diagnosis, a superficial examination is sufficient. It is supragingival stones that become the reason for going to the doctor. And already during the study, the doctor may suspect the existence of hidden defects.
This is how the supragingival stones on the teeth look like - a photo before and after cleaning:
How to delete
Large stones on the teeth - the cause of the appearance and development of gingivitis, periodontitis. Because of them, inflammatory processes develop, hard tissues of the teeth are destroyed, gums and cheeks suffer. Can get to this serious condition like phlegmon of the cheek.
Complications are serious, and a regular toothbrush cannot solve the problem. Therefore, it is better to take the help of a hygienist in time. Four methods are known:
- mechanical impact. Today in Moscow it is used extremely rarely, as it is traumatic and outdated.
- Chemical processing. Removal of growths with strong chemicals.
- The use of ultrasound. Influencing stone plaque with ultrasonic waves different frequency, the dentist destroys it without harm to the enamel.
- The impact of the laser. The method is expensive, so many clinics do not offer complex treatment, but a separate one. laser cleaning one tooth.
Home procedures, the description of which is full of articles on the Internet, are ineffective. They are suitable only for the prevention, prevention of disease and the fight against bacteria. And certainly none home method not suitable for removing subgingival calculus.
Who to contact
by the most qualified specialists to remove hardened plaque are periodontists. Their specialty is gum disease. Therefore, they cope better with subgingival deposits. To remove the supragingival, the qualifications of a hygienist or dentist-therapist are sufficient.
Additional procedures
After removal, polishing is required. Freshly cleaned enamel has a porous surface in which microbes, mucus, and epithelial cells accumulate. Excellent conditions are created for the re-formation of plaque. To avoid this, traditional polishing is performed.
Its analogue is the processing by an apparatus that supplies a thin jet under pressure from a mixture of water, air and the smallest abrasive particles. If the clinic does not polish the enamel after tartar removal, it is worth looking for an alternative.
After removal
For two weeks after getting rid of plaque, it is recommended to abandon products that affect the color of the enamel. During this period, she is especially susceptible to dyes. Vivid examples of such products: red grape wine, coffee, strongly brewed black tea, beetroot and carrot juices.
Prevention
Tartar and the consequences of its growth can cause the removal of a tooth, its complete loss. Therefore, the prevention of plaque accumulation should be carried out regularly. For this you need:
- stop smoking so as not to expose the enamel destructive influence tobacco smoke;
- brush your teeth twice a day;
- rinse your mouth after eating;
- use brushes of medium and high rigidity;
- include solid foods in the diet, including raw vegetables;
- use dental floss to thoroughly clean the interdental and gingival spaces;
- timely treat cervical caries.
If these simple rules are not followed, plaque forms, which is why stones appear on the teeth. And, most importantly, preventive examinations should not be missed. Once every six months, the oral cavity should be examined by a dentist who has access to modern equipment, high-tech tools.
How to brush your teeth
To spend several times on the teeth with a brush and paste is not enough. For external, internal and chewing surfaces it is necessary to make different movements. An example algorithm looks like this:
- After eating, small particles of food remain in the oral cavity. This is one of the reasons why tartar forms. Therefore, it is better to get rid of them by rinsing your mouth with water several times.
- External surfaces are cleaned with strictly vertical movements from the gum to the tooth. In this way, you need to process the front parts of the upper and lower teeth.
- Next, unfolding the brush, you should clean the internal zones in the same way.
- Then, with progressive horizontal movements, the chewing surfaces are cleaned.
Bacteria also remain on the tongue. And this is another reason why tartar appears. For cleaning the tongue, brushes with embossed back side. It removes possible contaminants. There are also special devices, as in the photo:
In conclusion, it is good to use dental floss. It removes what is inaccessible to the brush and saturates the teeth with fluoride.
Tartar in children
Few of the kids like to brush their teeth and do it without being reminded. But stone plaque is not uncommon for them. Therefore, it is necessary to explain why gum stone may appear on the teeth from an early age.
The consequences of the formation of tartar in children are the same. But there may be more reasons. This addiction to sweets, excessive consumption of carbonated drinks, unwillingness to take solid food. Timely introduction to the child's diet is mandatory. raw carrots, apples, nuts, limiting soda and sweets.
How to brush children's teeth
In order not to wonder why tartar appeared, you need to properly care for your baby's teeth. Up to 6 years of age, cleaning is carried out by adults:
- The anterior and posterior surfaces of the upper and lower teeth are processed in circular motions.
- Chewing zones are cleaned in a horizontal direction.
Dental floss is allowed for use only after 8-9 years, when a grown-up child is fully aware of his actions, can track sensations.
What else to pay attention to
It happens that with timely and well-maintained hygiene, a person suffers from excess plaque. In such situations, experienced dentists refer patients to an appointment with a general practitioner or gastroenterologist. The goal is to confirm or exclude diseases gastrointestinal tract. It is they who often become the cause of the colonization of the oral cavity with harmful bacteria.
Antibiotics can provoke the formation of tartar. Destroying the microflora, they contribute to the reproduction of pathological microorganisms. Those, in turn, settle on the enamel and are actively involved in the process of accumulation of deposits.
Tartar and pregnancy
The best option would be a complete sanitation of the oral cavity in preparation for the conception of a baby. But if pregnancy came earlier, you should not postpone a visit to the dentist until delivery. Stones and, to a greater extent, their complications affect the onset of inflammatory processes. Germs can spread to the fetus. And this is fraught with sad consequences.
Today, there are gentle methods that use application anesthesia, gently cleaning enamel acid solutions. Ultrasonic cleanings are available to expectant mothers, which are best done in the second trimester.
The onset of pregnancy and prenatal weeks best time to remove tartar. Active dental care during these periods can only be urgent: with severe pain expressed inflammation.
The cost of cleaning in the clinic
The fight against tartar is an expensive undertaking. Treatment of the oral cavity with ultrasound will cost, on average, three thousand rubles. For stone removal with a laser, you will have to pay twice as much. Save money and teeth - visit the dentist on time!