In the oral cavity of each person, dental plaque is gradually deposited into tartar , which leads to gum disease and subsequent tooth loss.
Types and harm of dental deposits
Dying off, accumulations of bacteria form a soft plaque, which, if not removed in time, hardens and is called tartar, which appears not only above the gum, but also under it.
However, hard deposits occur even with proper dental care at home (especially in hard-to-reach places) and are considered a natural phenomenon. In dentistry, there are two types of dental deposits: soft and hard dental deposits.
- Soft touch. Formations of this kind include bacteria, viscous saliva, cells of the oral cavity, which are mostly easily brushed off. They can accumulate not only on teeth, but also on fillings, prostheses. One week is enough for soft plaque to turn into hard deposits.
- Solid plaque . Tartar is not always visible, because it can also occur inside the gums, as already mentioned. The gradual accumulation of deposits turns into gum and tooth disease.
Consequences . If you do not get rid of plaque on the teeth, then there is a risk of periodontitis and gingivitis , which develop in the gums, causing them to bleed , and contribute to the weakening of the tooth root and the destruction of enamel.
Reasons for the formation of dental deposits
Plaque on the teeth appears primarily due to insufficient care of the oral cavity, improper cleaning technique, which should last at least three minutes during each procedure.
Other factors in the formation of tartar are:
- pastes that do not fully meet dental requirements;
- too soft brush, which can not remove plaque qualitatively;
- using a toothbrush for more than three months;
- irregular consumption of apples, carrots, dried bread and other hard foods;
- abuse of soft food, which is easily clogged in the nooks and crannies of the jaws;
- improperly grown teeth, uneven enamel surface, abnormal bite, which make it difficult to care for the oral cavity;
- uneven load on the chewing apparatus, while much more deposits are formed on the relatively passive jaw;
- smoking;
- periodontitis - inflammation of the tissues (periodontium) around the tooth root, holding it in the required position;
- metabolic disorders that occur against the background of taking a large number of drugs.
Cleansing methods
Getting rid of tartar is possible only in dental clinics, where a specialist will remove not only deposits visible to the eye, but also clean gum pockets and interdental spaces.
There are two options for professional cleaning of dental deposits: mechanical and chemical.
Mechanical way to remove plaque
It is carried out manually or using equipment, which is divided into two types: ultrasonic and powder-jet. All methods are successfully combined with each other, providing high quality cleaning. At the end of the procedure, the dentist polishes the teeth with the necessary brushes and pastes.
- Manual . This method is carried out by special curettes, it is used without combining with others only when hardware cleaning is contraindicated for the patient: with epilepsy, pronounced diabetes mellitus, osteomyelitis and a number of other diseases. In most cases, it is used after removing large deposits with an ultrasonic device.
- Ultrasonic . It is the most modern, effective and safe technique. It is performed using a scaler (dental apparatus), removes massive tartar without damaging the enamel.
- Powder jet . The common name for the method is Air-Flow. Cleans from the smallest particles of soft and hard plaque, high-quality polishes the tooth surface, which is achieved by powerful spraying of a mixture of water and powder. It is mainly used in combination with ultrasound, removing the remnants of tartar.
Dental clinics also offer laser teeth cleaning. The procedure is very comfortable, but not affordable for everyone.
Chemical method of removing dental deposits
The method is used in particularly difficult cases: with high tooth mobility and the most dense accumulation of deposits. To clean the teeth, a gel preparation is applied to them, which includes acids, alkalis, iodine, which can destroy the durable surface of plaque. The procedure lasts an average of one minute, then the cleansing composition is removed with a swab, and the mouth is rinsed with water.
It should be emphasized that when using this method, the gum is carefully isolated from the effects of a chemical reaction. Deposits near the surface of the gums remain uncleaned, so the method is not effective enough and is used only in forced cases.
Contraindications
The method of cleaning dental plaque using devices is contraindicated in:
- the presence of implants in the oral cavity;
- heart disease;
- bronchitis, asthma;
- hepatitis, tuberculosis;
- diabetes mellitus;
- hypersensitivity leading to a gag reflex;
- pregnancy and feeding.
Children and adolescents are also not recommended for such procedures.
Prevention
To prevent diseases of the gums and teeth, it is necessary to regularly care for the oral cavity:
- brush your teeth with sweeping and circular movements and for three minutes in the morning and evening;
- rinse your mouth thoroughly after eating;
- daily clean the tongue from all sides, use dental floss, irrigators;
- apply special pastes to remove plaque;
- change the brush after three months, the bristles should be artificial, of medium hardness;
- include solid foods in the diet, reduce the consumption of confectionery, soda, strong coffee and tea;
- visit the dentist once every six months for a dental cleaning.
Modern removal of dental deposits makes teeth whiter, freshens breath, does no harm. Regular procedures help to preserve the health and beauty of teeth for a long time.
