Statistics show that tartar is found in 70% of the adult population. At the beginning of their formation, such formations do not cause discomfort and are considered by patients only as a cosmetic defect. But in the event that if no measures are taken, a hard coating can cause the development of serious pathologies. Therefore, anyone who discovers a similar formation should consult a dentist and ask how to remove tartar from the tooth.
Hardened coating
Limestone deposits of yellow or brown spoil the white of the smile. This is tartar, which most often forms on the inside or outside of the incisors. In advanced cases, it can be found on the upper jaw.
What is tartar and what does it consist of? In its composition, you can find salts of phosphorus, calcium, iron. As well as dead epithelial cells, saliva proteins, bacteria and food debris.
The stone is formed gradually. First, a thin, sticky film appears on the surface of the enamel. It begins to gradually harden if it has not been completely removed during brushing. Plaque continues to accumulate. Its mineralization occurs.
The rate of stone formation in all patients is different. It depends on some features of the body and metabolism. But on average, an adhesive film turns into stone in 14-16 days. Removing it only with a toothbrush will fail.
Patients are asked not only about what tartar is, but also about what its color depends on. In some people, education is almost imperceptible with a smile. While in others, the necks of the teeth become dark brown or almost black. The fact is that the hardened coating has a porous texture and is easily painted. Therefore, smoking, drinking coffee, tea or red wine leads to the fact that the stone darkens.
Reasons for education
Thorough dental hygiene prevents plaque. And this, in turn, makes the formation of stones impossible. Unfortunately, only a few hours are enough to form a raid. It is only worth not brushing your teeth before bedtime or doing it insufficiently thoroughly, as the pathological process will be started.
There are three main stages in the formation of plaque:
- First one. It lasts for four hours after brushing your teeth. Bacteria that have not been removed begin to multiply. By the end of this stage, more than 1 million different microorganisms may be in the oral cavity.
- The second one. Seven hours after cleaning, the number of microbes exceeds 10 million. Bacteria are fixed on enamel and contribute to the formation of a sticky film. They secrete acids that destroy the surface of the teeth. At this stage, lactobacilli and streptococci predominate.
- The third. After a few hours, the plaque can already be considered. Anaerobic bacteria predominate in its composition. For their vital activity, oxygen is not needed, therefore they are able to dwell in the depths of the plaque. Layering thickens. Gradual mineralization occurs.
The main, but not the only cause of plaque is poor oral hygiene. Despite this, dentists sometimes find such formations even in those patients who thoroughly brush their teeth. Therefore, it is recommended to visit the dentist regularly, even if nothing bothers you.
Answering the question of why stones are formed on the teeth, doctors distinguish the following factors:
- Malocclusion.
- Metabolic disease.
- The predominance of refined, soft foods in the diet.
- Taking some medications.
- Periodontitis
- Alcohol abuse.
- Change in saliva composition.
- Metabolic disease.
- Using low-quality toothpaste and brush.
- The presence of orthodontic structures.
- Chewing food on one side only.
- Improper tooth position (crowding, bite problems).
- Insufficient polishing of enamel after professional cleaning.
- Smoking.
- The use of large quantities of sweet soda and muffin.
Clinical manifestations
Removing stones from teeth must be done as soon as they are discovered. This will preserve the beauty of the smile, as well as her health. Unfortunately, not all people daily examine the inner surface of the tooth with a mirror. And the stone most often forms there.
Often, a person learns about his problem only when the following symptoms begin to appear:
- Bad smell.
- Tooth mobility.
- Inflammation and bleeding of the mucous membrane of the alveolar process.
- The appearance of periodontal pockets.
- Darkening of the base of the tooth.
Classification
Dentists, before they remove the stones from the teeth, determine their appearance. This must be done in order to choose the best treatment. Depending on the localization, stones are:
- Supra gingival. Noticeable to the naked eye. Formed over the surface of the gums, most often on the inside of the tooth. The consistency is clay or dense. In most cases, such stones are painted yellow.
- Subgingival. They are found in people over 45 years old. With a normal visual inspection, it is difficult to notice. Stones form in the periodontal pocket and are quite tight against the root surface. Only a doctor can detect the formation using a special probe. Such stones are very hard. The color may be brown or dark green.
- A stone bridge. An extensive formation that affects several teeth in a row at once.
Possible complications
The cost of brushing your teeth from tartar is much lower than the cost of treating those complications that the advanced stage of this pathology can lead to. Therefore, do not delay the visit to the doctor. Timely removal of solid formations will protect against the development of the following complications:
- Increased bleeding.
- Gingivitis.
- Atrophy of the gums.
- Caries.
- Dark spots on enamels that are difficult to discolor.
- Itching of the mucosa.
- Teething.
- Periodontitis.
Ultrasonic cleaning
There are several ways to clean your teeth from tartar. The most effective is ultrasound. The procedure is performed using a special device called a scaler. In most cases, local anesthesia is not required. But if the patient has a low pain threshold, the doctor can apply it.
How to remove stones from teeth with ultrasound and does enamel harm it? Such questions are most often heard by dentists before the procedure. Ultrasonic cleaning is completely safe and harmless to enamel. Nevertheless, there are some contraindications for its use:
- The first trimester of pregnancy.
- Arrhythmia.
- Chronic bronchitis or asthma.
- HIV
- Implants and other orthodontic constructions.
- Tuberculosis.
- Bite change in adolescents.
- Hepatitis.
- Childhood.
During the procedure, the dentist applies a special gel to the teeth. It releases oxygen, which weakens the adhesion of the stone to enamel. Ultrasonic vibration destroys the formation. The stone is completely removed both above and below the gum. Manipulation ends with polishing and fluorination of enamel.
Laser removal
Everyone wants to have a snow-white smile. Therefore, patients often ask dentists how to remove stones from teeth in dentistry and at the same time brighten enamel? For such purposes, laser cleaning is used. There are no drawbacks to this procedure. But there are contraindications:
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- Periodontitis.
- Any endoprostheses.
- Bronchial asthma.
- The presence of more than three extended teeth.
- Pathology of the heart and blood vessels.
- A large number of fillings.
- Braces and other orthodontic constructions.
- Tuberculosis.
- SARS, the flu.
- Herpes.
- Age to 18 years.
- All types of hepatitis.
- Chronical bronchitis.
Cleaning is carried out without direct contact with enamel. The principle of removal is based on the ability of a laser beam to exert an effect on liquids. Plaque contains more water than tooth enamel. For this reason, the laser easily destroys the stone. Enamel does not suffer during this process.
Before the stones are removed from the teeth, the patient is prepared. The dentist, using a special scale, determines the color of the client's enamel. Then the dentist or his assistant performs a light mechanical cleaning of the tooth surface. Only then can laser removal be started.
Each tooth cleared of a stone is polished. Then it is treated with a fluorine-containing compound. The patientβs teeth are not only completely cleaned of stones, they also become a few tones lighter. The price of brushing your teeth with tartar using a laser depends on the degree of damage. And also from the region where the clinic is located. On average, for the removal of a stone from one tooth, you will need to pay from 100 rubles.
The benefits of the procedure include:
- Safety for surrounding tissues and teeth.
- Enamel whitening.
- Silent procedure.
- Strengthening the gums.
Sandblasting
How are stones removed from the teeth for patients who have contraindications for laser and ultrasonic cleaning? In this case, many dentists advise using sandblasting. Unfortunately, it is effective only in the initial stages of sediment formation. With running cases, this procedure will not cope.
A mixture of water, abrasive mixture and air flow is used to remove small deposits. Solid particles have a spherical shape, so do not injure the enamel. Sandblasting removes deposits even in the most inaccessible places. Its particles, together with the remnants of plaque, are removed from the patient's mouth with a special aspiration system.
Immediately after the procedure, the enamel cuticle is completely absent on the teeth. Within three hours, it is restored under the influence of saliva. For this reason, you should not smoke, drink tea, coffee or red wine earlier than three hours after the procedure. Otherwise, the teeth will darken.
Sandblasting allows you to achieve the following results:
- Clear plaque.
- Polish the enamel surface.
- Clear fissures as well as gingival pockets.
- Clean orthodontic structures and implant surfaces.
- Dissect carious cavities, provided that they are small in size.
Hand Tool Removal
You can remove the stone from the teeth using hand tools. They have special sharpened edges that allow you to scrape off deposits. This method is considered obsolete and traumatic. You can damage the enamel and scratch the gum. You canβt do without anesthesia.
Toothpastes and gels for home use
Not everyone agrees to stone removal in the dental office. Many patients prefer to solve this problem on their own, at home. If the case is not running, then this is possible. But it is better to play it safe and consult with your doctor in advance. Therefore, with the question of how to remove a stone from your teeth yourself, it is better to consult a dentist. He will recommend quality toothpastes or gels.
The most effective remedies include:
- "ROCS White Verse." In its composition - microparticles of silicon dioxide. They effectively remove hard deposits and bleach enamel.
- Jason Sea Fresh. Bamboo powder helps remove tartar. As well as minerals and salts of the Dead Sea.
- "Radonta". In the fight against stone, the most effective "Morning" paste. It contains abrasive particles that easily remove plaque.
- Global White. Contains potassium pyrophosphate and silicon particles. To remove the stone, you will need to brush your teeth three times a day. The duration of the procedure should be at least 3 minutes.
- "New pearls." Contains calcium, herbal extracts, and fine abrasive particles. It copes well with a soft coating.
- Silver Silver ions help get rid of plaque and pathogenic microorganisms.
- Detartrine Z. In its composition a unique substance is crushed zirconium silicate. Particles work like scrapers, carefully removing even hard deposits.
Home Irrigator and Dental Floss
Every person who thinks about how to deal with a stone on his teeth should understand that it is easier to prevent its appearance than to eliminate it later. If the paste and brush do not cope with the removal of plaque, it is recommended to purchase a home irrigator and floss. This will keep the enamel spotlessly clean.
An irrigator is an electrical device that can deliver a thin stream of water under high pressure. She washes plaque and bacteria from places where no brush can reach. An irrigator will be especially useful for those people who wear braces and other orthodontic designs.
Dental floss also prevents plaque from gaining a foothold and hardening. It should be used after each meal. If during the day it was not possible to use it, then you should apply it before going to bed.
Folk recipes
Sandblasting, as well as laser and ultrasonic cleaning are modern techniques. Even 30 or 40 years ago, stones could be removed only with hand tools. Unfortunately, this is a rather traumatic and painful way. Therefore, many patients were interested in how to clean tartar at home.
The most effective methods include the following:
- Wet a cotton swab with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Attach it for five minutes to the place where the stone formed. After removing the swab, the teeth must be brushed, but do not use toothpaste. The procedure is repeated once a week until the deposits disappear.
- In two teaspoons of baking soda, add 1 ml of peroxide and 5 drops of lemon juice. Mix thoroughly. The resulting paste is applied for three minutes to problem areas. Then rinse your mouth.
- 3 g of soda and 3 g of fine salt are added to half a teaspoon of any toothpaste. The resulting mixture is used for brushing your teeth. Soda with salt can damage the enamel, so this method is not recommended to be used more often than once a week.
Healing herbs
Before you remove stones from your teeth at home, using powders and pastes, you need to make sure that the gums are completely healthy. Salt and soda can damage the mucous membrane and even enamel. If the gums are prone to bleeding, it is better to use gargles with various herbs to remove the stone. Such treatment takes a lot of time, but it is completely safe for enamel and mucous membranes.
The most popular recipes are as follows:
- Two and a half tablespoons of dry horsetail are poured with a glass of boiling water. After two hours, the infusion is filtered. Three times a day it is used for rinsing. The procedure is repeated daily until the enamel is clean.
- A tablespoon of celandine dry grass is poured with a glass of boiling water. After half an hour, filter. Rinse twice a day.
- A tablespoon of chopped walnut bark is poured with 350 ml of hot water. The liquid is put on fire and boiled for 30 minutes. Ready broth is filtered. It is used for rinsing. In addition, in the broth, you can moisten the brush and brush your teeth.
Prevention
It is difficult to be confident in a person if the teeth are covered with dark deposits, exuding an unpleasant odor. Therefore, oral hygiene must be monitored constantly. It is much easier to prevent the occurrence of a problem than to then think about why stones are formed on the teeth and how to deal with them.
The following preventative measures allow you to maintain the health and whiteness of a smile:
- Thorough oral hygiene twice daily.
- To give up smoking.
- Regular toothbrush replacement.
- Power optimization. Limitation of sweets in the diet.
- Using quality toothpaste.
- Additional cleansing of the interdental spaces using floss. As well as the use of antibacterial rinses.
- Regular visits to the dentist.