People who are not particularly interested in the structure of their body, think that the teeth are completely immobile and firmly adhered to the bones of the jaw. But this is absolutely not the case: the dental roots are connected to the jaw bones with the help of connective tissues, and in conjunction with the gum, these are periodontal tissues. Surely many people know the word periodontitis, but not everyone knows what it means until they face this problem. And this problem is very unpleasant and can lead to complete loss of teeth. Therefore, it is better to know in advance what it is. Periodontitis usually occurs due to deposits of stones on the teeth. And what is tartar? How do stones appear on teeth?
Content
What is tartar?
Tartar is a partially or fully mineralized microbial plaque on the teeth that has not been removed using daily hygiene procedures.
There are two types of stones:
- Supragingival. When inspecting their teeth can be seen with the naked eye.
- Poddesnevye. Formed in periodontal pockets. Naked eye can not see them. It is possible to detect these dental deposits during periodontal operations or during probing of periodontal pockets.
Why is tartar formed?
After eating food in the mouth remains a certain amount of food debris. Residues of food are used by bacteria to maintain their vital functions. It has been established that if during only one day hygienic procedures were not performed, during this time the amount of bacterial plaque doubles. Nutrients are necessary for bacteria not only for reproduction, but also for the production of enzymes (enzymes), with the help of which the bacteria are tightly attached to the surface of the teeth.
In the absence of proper hygienic care for the oral cavity, colonies of bacteria attached to the teeth of the bacteria merge and significant bacterial masses are formed. At the initial stage, the resulting plaque is still soft and can be easily removed with a toothbrush. But over time, the mineralization of soft microbial plaque will occur, which will turn into tartar.
Calcification (mineralization) occurs as follows: saliva contains potassium salts and protein, which settle to the surface of bacterial colonies, and the deposit gradually hardens. During the mineralization process occurs stratification of new bacterial colonies. That's how tartar grows. Also, plaque secretes inflammatory mediators and toxins, which is why inflammation of the gums begins.
The main signs of gum disease:
- Cyanosis or redness of the gums.
- Bleeding gums during brushing.
- Pain in the gums.
- The appearance of pus in periodontal pockets.
- Teeth mobility.
Inflammation of the gums is necessary for the vital activity of bacteria. Why? In the place where the teeth are adjacent to the gums there is a groove, it regularly periodontal fluid is produced. This fluid contains a large amount of proteins and salts, which are vital for bacteria to grow colonies. When inflammation occurs in the gums, there is an increase in production of the periodontal fluid, and as a result, bacterial colonies receive even more salts and proteins. That is, in case of inflammation in the gums (periodontitis, gingivitis), dramatically increases the rate of formation of tartar.
Other causes of tartar formation include:
- Regular consumption of very sweet or fatty foods, which leaves a large amount of plaque on the tooth enamel.
- Lack of solid foods in the diet that clean the surface of the teeth well.
- Chewing food on one side of the mouth. Plaque is deposited on the side that does not participate in the process of chewing food.
- Smoking. Resins that are contained in tobacco smoke accumulate on the teeth forming a dark scurf.
- Endocrine disorders.
- Metabolic disease.
The consequences of the formation of tartar
The formed stones on the teeth can cause:
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Bad smell from mouth. - Gingivitis (periodontitis and gingivitis). Microbial plaque on the teeth and hard deposits emit toxins that trigger the process of inflammation in the gums. Inflammation begins in the form of swelling, bleeding, soreness and redness of the gums. All of these symptoms are characteristic of gingivitis. If you do not start the treatment of gingivitis in time, the inflammation will cover the bone tissue. As a result, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis.
- Caries. Microorganisms, which are contained in soft and hard dental deposits, secrete hydrochloric acid, which destroys the enamel and the tooth begins to rot.
- Diseases of the oral mucosa. The accumulation of a large number of microbes can lead to inflammation of the oral mucosa. As a result, erosion, ulcers and stomatitis may occur.
Tartar removal methods
The only and most reliable method of getting rid of stones on the teeth is professional removal of hard deposits. Only a dentist can remove solid deposits on the teeth qualitatively and professionally. Folk methods, various rinses and lotions, absolutely do not act on tartar.
Methods of professional removal of tartar:
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Mechanical manual removal. Hard deposits are removed with dental hooks. This method is quite painful and inefficient at removing subgingival stones, therefore it is used very rarely. But the use of a special Swiss device, which releases a therapeutic mixture under pressure, will gently and painlessly remove all solid deposits. If the deposits are too hard, then the chemical method is used. Dental calculus is dissolved using chemical alkalis and acids. - Ultrasound removal. This removal method is the most popular. Carry out this procedure with the help of special devices - scalers, which give out vibration at the level of ultrasound. Under the influence of vibration, dental calculus is destroyed and lags behind the surface of the teeth. After the procedure, the surface of the teeth is treated with polishing nozzles, then coated with a dental varnish, which strengthens enamel.
- Laser removal. This method is the most modern and effective, but quite expensive. When removing solid deposits with a laser beam, all germs that cause inflammation are destroyed and the tooth enamel is whitened.
How to avoid the formation of tartar?
To prevent the formation of stones on the teeth is recommended:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
- Be sure to rinse your mouth after eating.
- Limit the consumption of fatty and sweet foods. Include in the diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as solid foods.
- Chewing food on both sides of the mouth.
- If a dark plaque appears on the teeth, a medical examination is necessary. This will help to determine the causes of changes in acid-base balance.
- Regularly visit the dentist.
Compliance with preventive measures and regular visits to the dentist will help to slow down or even prevent the formation of stones on the teeth.
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