Not everyone knows that plaque and stone must be removed. Many consider this only an aesthetic defect. After all, neither teeth nor gums hurt, there is nothing to treat, so why go to the dentist? But in fact, plaque and stone entail serious consequences. We suggest you find out why the removal of plaque and stone is necessary.
What is plaque?
Plaque is a thin film of food molecules and various bacteria that multiply on the surface of the teeth. It is formed after each meal, including snacks. If you can’t fight it at all, then every day the raid will become thicker. Over time, it will turn into tartar. It is much more difficult to deal with it.
Tartar is already a solid sediment. They are composed of phosphate salts, calcium salts, food debris, bacteria and dead gum cells.
Types of Tartar
Tartar can be located in three places. Depending on this, it is divided into such species as:
- supragingival: the stone is collected on the surface of the tooth;
- subgingival: gets under the gum, causing bleeding;
- stone bridge: located between the teeth.
Why does plaque and stone appear?
The most common cause of plaque and development of stones is poor hygiene of the growth cavity. But such factors can also provoke the appearance of these unpleasant things:
- the use of a large amount of soft food, consisting of easily digestible carbohydrates;
- lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet;
- improper chewing process (when teeth are involved only on one side);
- chronic diseases of the digestive tract, metabolism and other internal organs;
- the use of inappropriate toothbrushes, pastes and other oral hygiene products ;
- the presence of such a bad habit as smoking;
- drinking coffee and tea too often.
What is the danger of tartar?
Tartar is not only an aesthetic problem. It serves as an excellent place for the propagation of microorganisms that cause inflammation of the gums of varying severity, as a result of periodontitis appears and caries develops.
The development of stones is accompanied by such moments as bad breath, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, destruction of the jaw and so on.
Among the possible consequences are the following:
- deep forms of periodontitis;
- removal of a tooth.
In order not to suffer from such serious troubles, it is better to remove plaque in time.
Plaque and calculus removal methods
To date, there are two options for removing plaque and stone:
The home method involves the use of special toothpaste and brush. This is a lengthy process, but does not require a visit to a doctor. It is not recommended to use recipes for decoctions and homemade pastes that are offered by some "specialists" self-taught at home, as they often do not help relieve plaque, but only exacerbate the situation, damaging the enamel.
Ways to remove plaque in dentistry:
- mechanical;
- chemical;
- ultrasound;
- laser;
- air abrasive.
Removing plaque with special pastes and brushes
This method gives the result only at not too advanced stages and helps to remove hard plaque, but not massive stone. In order for the method to work, a special toothpaste is used for a long time. Plaque removal can only be achieved with one that includes:
- polishing and grinding components;
- plant enzymes bromelain and papain (they soften the stone);
- compounds of pyrophosphates and zinc (they slow down the process of hardening of plaque, thereby reducing the number of bacteria).
These pastes include:
- Lacaluth White. It is recommended to alternate it with other toothpastes.
- "President White Plus." This toothpaste has a stronger effect, so it is not recommended to use it for daily cleaning. It is enough to use it once a week.
Removing soft plaque is best entrusted to electric brushes. They are not as aggressive to use as special toothpastes, and they can be used every day.
Mechanical removal method
Previously, mechanical plaque removal was the only way. But now this method is used extremely rarely.
The mechanical method involves the use of special metal hooks. Thanks to the original form, they penetrate into inaccessible places. The whole process consists of chipping stones from the surface of the tooth and from the gum pocket. The method is quite painful and traumatic.
Chemical way
Chemical removal is extremely rare. The essence of the method is that special plaque removal agents are applied. They include acid solutions and alkali. On the surface of the tooth, they begin to interact with the stones, making the latter soften, and it becomes very easy to remove.
The disadvantage of the chemical method is that the reagents do not penetrate under the gum and into the interdental space, therefore the bacteria that provoke the development of plaque do not die. Accordingly, after a short period of time, the stones will appear again.
The chemical method is used when other methods are contraindicated or the stones are tightly attached to tooth enamel.
Laser stone removal
Plaque and tartar removal is performed under the influence of a special laser. The laser beam is directed to the damaged area, as a result of which the stone is crushed into small particles, which can then be easily washed with a special spray. The device has several modes of operation that can cope with any type of tooth contamination: stone, plaque and so on.
This is one of the most modern and expensive methods of brushing your teeth. But at the same time one of the safest. Enamel does not suffer during this procedure, because the effect is only on the stone. Also, during laser brushing, all bacteria that cause plaque are destroyed. Therefore, the risk of tooth decay or any inflammatory processes is minimized.
The main disadvantage of the laser method is its high cost and the presence of a small number of dental clinics.
Air Abrasive Technique (Air Flow)
Removal of plaque by the air-abrasive method is reduced to the fact that abrasive substances act on the stone, and the flow of water, which is supplied with them, washes off its remains.
This method does an excellent job of removing plaque in hard to reach places.
Ultrasonic brushing
Ultrasound plaque removal is a tooth brushing using a special device that generates ultrasonic waves of the required frequency. They act on pollution at a distance.
The advantages of this method include the following factors:
- enamel is not injured;
- any type of pollution is cleaned: plaque, hard stone, and so on;
- no pain;
- during the procedure, tissue is disinfected with oxygen;
- the procedure not only cleans the surface of the tooth, but also its root, as well as the gum;
- zero chance of tooth decay or gum disease;
- teeth whitening occurs .
Despite the impressive list of advantages of the ultrasonic method of brushing your teeth, this method has several disadvantages. So, this procedure is contraindicated for people with severe diabetes, heart disease and those who have a pacemaker. It is also not recommended to use ultrasound for those who have increased sensitivity of teeth and gums, there are ulcers or erosion in the oral cavity, orthopedic structures. There are also age restrictions: this procedure is not performed for children and adolescents.
Prevention against plaque
To reduce the likelihood of plaque and stones, you should follow the simple recommendations of dentists:
- brush your teeth at least twice a day;
- Choose a quality toothpaste and brush;
- change the brush once a quarter, because even if it looks like new, a lot of bacteria have already gathered on the bristles;
- use additional means for cleaning the oral cavity: dental floss, irrigators, rinses;
- add more raw vegetables and fruits to your diet;
- drink less colored drinks (strong teas, coffee, sweet soda, and so on);
- if the tooth surface has already been cleaned of plaque and stone, then follow the recommendations prescribed by your dentist (for example, additional rinsing of the oral cavity with antiseptics and / or decoctions of medicinal plants);
- Use electric toothbrushes with rotating heads - they do better with brushing your teeth.
These tips will help prevent the accumulation of plaque and the development of stones, respectively, and visits to dentists for medical purposes will become much less common.