A beautiful smile is not just a criterion of attractiveness, but also an important indicator of the health of every person. For proper care of the oral cavity, without which the teeth would quickly lose their snow-white, it is not enough to regularly clean or use chewing gums. Food consumed is deposited on dental enamel, in periodontal pockets, and if you do not remove it in time, then at home you will not be able to return your old dazzling smile. Brushing teeth from tartar is almost the job of a professional dentist, and it’s impossible to do it on your own.
How to get rid of tartar in a dental clinic?
This procedure is carried out exclusively for the rehabilitation of the oral cavity. It is necessary to pass it at least once every 10-12 months. Cleaning stones on tooth enamel carries not only hygienic functions. Thanks to the removal of hardened plaque from the surface of the crown, the doctor has the opportunity to objectively assess the condition of the teeth, detect caries at the stage of its nucleation and select a shade of filling identical to the natural tone of enamel.
To remove petrified formations, mainly accumulating in the gum pocket, dentists perform a whole range of therapeutic and preventive actions:
- First of all, the old raid is eliminated. It is worth considering some features of the procedure, if you take into account the reviews: cleaning the tartar can cause pain or discomfort, and therefore sometimes requires local anesthesia.
- At the second stage, the surface is polished, due to which the crown acquires a fresh uniform tone.
- At the end - fluorination of enamel. The final stage, during which a strengthening coating is applied to the enamel surface.
Professional methods for cleaning and whitening tooth enamel
To date, there are several ways to clean teeth from hardened plaque. The oldest is the manual method of removing stones. Cleaning is carried out using a curette, which should be owned by every self-respecting dentist. Despite the existence of innovative approaches to oral sanitation, the manual method of calculus removal is still popular today. In addition, no modern device is able to penetrate under the gum to remove radical plaque without injuring soft tissues.
The manual method for removing stones is recognized as more delicate and high-quality than, for example, the chemical method of cleaning the tooth surface. Its essence lies in the use of special emollients that act on old "deposits". Due to the aggressiveness of the components and the high risk of an allergic reaction, dry cleaning is extremely rare.
As for the laser procedure for cleansing tooth enamel, you can use this service only in expensive private clinics. At the same time, the high cost of manipulation is far from always due to its effectiveness - a repeated session is often required to achieve the desired result.
Ultrasound from tartar and plaque
Ultrasonic cleaning of teeth from a stone is the most popular method, which does not imply a harmful effect on enamel. This is the latest dental procedure, completely harmless to patients and sparing for their oral cavity. Since it is the cleansing of plaque and stone using ultrasound that is the most popular method of transforming a smile, it is worthwhile to dwell on its description in more detail.
Manipulation takes place using a special device - a scaler. The device conducts ultrasonic vibrations, gently and painlessly acting on the yellowed enamel. Unlike other types of procedures intended for oral cavity sanitation, this dental manipulation allows you to effectively whiten your teeth and prevent the appearance of calcium deposits in the root zone, thoroughly clean the canals and strengthen the gums.
In addition, the cost of ultrasonic cleaning of teeth from plaque and stone differs significantly from an expensive laser session, and therefore is considered more affordable. Moreover, the most economical option today is the manual method of enamel cleansing.
Who doesn’t want ultrasonic cleaning?
Regardless of the financial capabilities of the patient, the choice of procedure should be approached responsibly. Before you clean the stones with ultrasound, the dentist must examine the condition of the teeth. With excessive thinning of the enamel surface, ultrasonic treatment is contraindicated.
Experts do not recommend performing the procedure in a number of other cases. So, brushing your teeth with tartar with ultrasound is undesirable for pregnant women and other patients who:
- have jaw implants;
- suffer from diseases of the respiratory system (asthma, chronic bronchitis);
- recently suffered an infectious and inflammatory process in the oral cavity;
- have not reached the age of 16;
- sick with tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis.
Most visitors to the dental office before the start of the procedure are worried, fearing the impending pain and discomfort. But, as practice has shown, in the absence of contraindications, all experiences turn out to be in vain - ultrasound does not harm the health of the teeth. To obtain the expected result for the provision of services, it is advisable to contact a qualified doctor.
How is the procedure going?
The procedure for ultrasonic brushing can be described as follows:
- First, the dentist prepares the equipment. The scaler is mounted in a machine installation, a saliva ejector is placed in the patient’s oral cavity - an apparatus that eliminates excess fluid during the process.
- When starting up, the scaler performs rapid oscillations at an ultrasonic frequency sufficient for exposure, which helps to separate tartar from enamel.
- In parallel with the main apparatus, there is a supply of water or a weak concentration of a medicinal solution washing the treated tooth.
- For successful stone cleaning, the nozzle is guided along the enamel surface.
- At the end of the procedure, tooth enamel is polished . An additional nozzle is put on and a special abrasive compound is used.
- Fluorination of the surface is usually carried out at the request of the patient. The purpose of this stage is to protect the teeth after brushing the stones, to ensure the prevention of carious decay.
By the way, the finish processing of enamel (polishing and fluorination) is carried out not only after the ultrasound procedure. After removing tartar manually or using a laser, partial exposure of the dentinal canals can also occur, which in itself is fraught with increased sensitivity to cold, hot, sour, etc.
Home Methods for Removing Plaque and Stones on Teeth
Household methods of cleaning stones on tooth enamel are also popular. Their application is far from always effective in advanced cases when deposits have already solidified. However, with periodic use of folk recipes, you can permanently preserve the whiteness of the teeth and delay the visit to the dentist. The most common natural stone cleaning products are:
- Radish . To prepare a prophylactic composition, you will need the gruel of the fruit of the black radish, 1 tsp. lemon juice. Rubbing the pulp impose on problem areas, leaving for exposure for several minutes. The product is not suitable for everyone because of the specific aroma, which will remind of itself for some time to come.
- Honey and horsetail. To begin with, prepare a decoction (for 1 tbsp. L. Dry plant material take 2 tbsp. Of water), boil it. After the infusion has cooled, be sure to strain it and add 1 tbsp. l honey. Use the product as a mouth rinse after each meal and brushing. Recommended frequency of use - 3 times a day.
- Bark of oak and walnut. By analogy with the previous recipe, a decoction is prepared, with which they rinse their mouth several times a day. Both components are taken in equal amounts (1 tsp each), mixed and poured with cold water. Next, the broth is brought to a boil, left over low heat, removed after half an hour.
Hydrogen peroxide: how to apply?
Turning to the reviews of people experimenting with home whitening and tartar removal, it is worth noting the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide, a bottle of which is available in every medicine cabinet. By the way, this substance is the basis of more than one dental system for removing plaque and tartar. Hydrogen peroxide is part of the abrasive fluoride pastes used during the dental procedure, since it affects hard deposits, loosening them due to exposure to active oxygen.
Used in pure form, the liquid helps to repel plaque from the enamel walls. But also do not forget that hydrogen peroxide is a very aggressive substance for teeth, and therefore, if used improperly, can lead to an increase in their sensitivity and burns of the oral mucosa. The peroxide application is simple: in a ratio of 1: 3 it is mixed with cold boiled water, then applied to tooth enamel with a cotton swab for a couple of minutes, then rinsed thoroughly with water. It is important that the solution does not enter the esophagus, as well as on the tongue, gums, lips.
Soda: a simple tool for beautiful teeth
Soda is used to clean teeth from tartar no less than hydrogen peroxide. You can get rid of yellow plaque and darkening on enamels if you apply an abrasive to its surface for several days. Despite the relative safety of this product, it is undesirable to use it for bleeding and gum disease, in the presence of ulcers, wounds on the oral mucosa, and the destruction of dental crowns.
More effective for whitening is the combination of soda with citric acid. Such a paste, strange as it sounds, is even used to clean the toilet from stones. Indeed, plumbing can be restored to its former shine in a couple of hours without any enormous financial costs. The prepared paste (sometimes liquid essence is used instead of powdered citric acid) is applied to dirty areas, left for some time for exposure, and then washed off with hot water. The softened urinary stone is easily removed with a brush.
Returning to the topic of cleaning tartar with soda, we should give an example of a couple of recipes for cooking this paste:
- From 1 tsp soda mix a pinch of citric acid, add 10 drops of water, stir and spread in rubbing movements on problem areas of the dentition for a couple of minutes.
- To 1 tsp. soda add 10 drops of hydrogen peroxide. Next, you need to wipe the enamel with the prepared mixture and rinse immediately.
Oil for softening stones on teeth
In dental practice, vegetable oils are often used (olive, sesame, and coconut are ideal for the oral cavity). They are distinguished by the ability to soften hardened deposits.
To restore the smile to its former freshness and charm, you need to rinse your teeth with vegetable oil in the morning and evening. To do this, there is no need to spit it periodically - just once put the oil in your mouth and hold for 10-15 minutes. After plaque and stones soften, you need to brush your teeth with a brush and toothpaste. In a week, the result will be visible to the naked eye.
Prevention of stone formation on teeth
The emollient properties of vegetable oils are indispensable when cleaning fecal stones. It is important to note that diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are common causes of the accelerated formation of plaque on the teeth. Disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system are always reflected in the state of the oral cavity. That is why the prevention of plaque in the tongue and stones on tooth enamel has much in common with measures to prevent constipation, hardening feces:
- Every morning you need to start with a glass of clean water, drink only on an empty stomach!
- After the last meal, you need to drink a couple of tablespoons of linseed, sesame or olive oil. By the way, dinner itself should be easily digestible, not to leave a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. The use of foods that cause fermentation, bloating, flatulence is best avoided.
- Instead of tea and coffee, it is advisable to give preference to beetroot or carrot juice and fresh apples to maintain intestinal health and the beauty of teeth.
- Do not forget about hygiene. Always wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before meals.
How and how to brush your teeth so that there are no stones?
After cleaning the tartar, it is important to remember that only the regular implementation of preventive actions will help prevent the re-formation of solid deposits. Initially, they are the thinnest soft films covering the enamel surface. If they are not eliminated in a timely manner, then in just a couple of weeks they will take the form of calcareous deposits. First of all, they appear between the teeth, in the basal zone, especially with loose, not tightly fitting gums.
One of the preventive measures aimed directly at preventing stones is the right choice of toothpaste. Here's what you need to consider when buying it:
- The toothpaste should contain tensides - these substances penetrate even the most hidden and cramped areas of both jaws.
- For the prevention of tartar, the content of abrasive substances, for example calcium carbonate, must be mandatory.
- To choose a toothpaste is necessary, based on the principle of protection and strengthening of the gums.
- After brushing your teeth, it is advisable to use an antibacterial rinse.
No need to try to clean the teeth of stones with improvised means (for example, a needle). This can lead not only to damage to the enamel, but also serious injury to the soft tissues, infection and complications.