Tooth stone. Tartar: photo, causes, removal Black stone on teeth causes

From this article you will learn:

what does tartar look like - photo of dental deposits,
tartar - causes of formation,
methods for removing it.

The article was written by a dentist with more than 19 years of experience.

Tartar is fully or partially mineralized soft microbial plaque that has not been removed in time with oral hygiene procedures. In the oral cavity there is a constant reproduction of microflora (especially after eating), which leads to an increase in the mass of soft microbial plaque.

If it is not cleaned off in time, then the process of gradual hardening of soft plaque immediately begins. This is due to its impregnation with mineral salts contained in saliva. Partial mineralization of plaque occurs on average 10-16 hours after its appearance. The time of mineralization is somewhat different in different people.

What are dental stones made of?–
Tartars on teeth are composed of organic (10 to 30%) and inorganic (70 to 90%) components. The bulk of the inorganic components are calcium salts - calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate. The composition of organic components includes: microorganisms, leukocytes, protein-polysaccharide components, epithelial cells peeled from the surface of the mucosa, proteins, etc.

Stones on the teeth are of the following types -

Stones on the teeth (synonymous with hard dental deposits) are usually divided into supragingival and subgingival.

Supragingival stone on the teeth (Fig. 1-6) -
visible to the naked eye when examining the teeth, tk. always localized above the level of the gums. It may be dark or yellowish in color. A stone of such localization is not difficult to remove, unlike the following type.

Subgingival stones on the teeth (Fig. 7) -
are localized below the level of the gums, and therefore they are not visible during a normal visual examination of the teeth. However, in most cases, in places where subgingival dental deposits are present, the gum has a bluish appearance, it is swollen and bleeds easily. There may also be a slight suppuration from the periodontal pocket in which the stone is located.
The presence of such stones indicates the development of periodontitis, and is associated with the destruction of the attachment of the gums to the tooth, as well as the destruction bone tissue around the tooth. As a result of the destruction of the bone between the gum and the tooth, the so-called periodontal pockets are formed, in which tartar is always localized (Fig. 4).
Stones on the teeth, localized under the gum, can only be detected with the help of instruments from the dentist. This is done when probing periodontal pockets with special instruments, or during periodontal operations. Only a few dentists are able to remove subgingival dental plaque, because. their search and removal take a very long time.

Tartar: causes

After eating, a large amount of food residue remains in the oral cavity, which are used by oral bacteria for their vital activity. First of all, bacteria use easily digestible carbohydrates, which are found in sweet, flour products. It has been established that in the absence of proper hygiene for only 1 day, the amount of bacterial plaque in the oral cavity increases by 2 times.

But bacteria use nutrients not only for reproduction, but also for the production of special enzymes (enzymes) that allow bacteria to attach tightly to the surface of the tooth. In the absence of proper hygiene, individual point bacterial colonies attached to the teeth merge, forming a significant mass of bacterial plaque (Fig. 8-9). At this stage, plaque is still soft and can be removed with a regular toothbrush.

Further, there will be a gradual mineralization of soft microbial plaque, which as a result will turn into hard tartar. Mineralization (calcification) of soft plaque occurs by sedimentation of proteins and calcium salts contained in saliva on the surface of bacterial colonies. The process of mineralization is combined with the layering of new colonies of bacteria.

In parallel, microbial plaque releases toxins and inflammatory mediators that trigger inflammation in the gums. The main signs of gum disease are -

bleeding when brushing teeth
redness or bluishness of the gums,
gum pain,
suppuration from periodontal pockets,
tooth mobility...

Inflammation in the gums is vital for bacteria and here's why. At the point where the gums meet the tooth, there is a dentogingival sulcus, into which fluid is constantly produced in small amounts from the gums - also called dentogingival. This liquid contains a large amount of salts and proteins that bacteria need to grow colonies.

The launch of inflammation processes in the gums leads to a sharp increase in the production of dentogingival fluid, and as a result, microbial colonies receive even more proteins and salts necessary for the calcification of tartar. Thus, the initial appearance of tartar always leads to the development of inflammation in the gums, which in turn contributes to an even faster formation of tartar. And further in a circle.

Causes of Tartar Formation: Conclusions

Many people often ask the same questions of the same type: what causes tartar, why does tartar form ... We hope that it becomes clear to you that the only reason for the appearance of tartar is exclusively ....

Poor oral hygiene –
resulting in a sharp increase in microbial plaque, attachment of bacteria to the surface of the teeth. After the soft microbial plaque is mineralized with calcium salts, it turns into hard tartar, which can no longer be removed with a toothbrush.
Accumulations of microbial plaque and tartar on the teeth lead to the development of inflammation of the gums (gingivitis and periodontitis). Inflammation in the gums, in turn, further accelerates the rate of formation of hard dental deposits.

Tartar: removal

Hard dental deposits (as opposed to soft plaque) can no longer be removed with a regular toothbrush and paste. Supra- and subgingival tartar - its removal is possible only at a dentist's appointment, but not very pronounced pigment and bacterial plaque can be removed at home.

1. Stone cleaning at the dentist's appointment -

This is the only method that guarantees their quality removal. The most effective is the removal of stones with the help. Removal of supragingival calculus is a very simple procedure, and is carried out in 1 hour from all teeth. But in order to qualitatively remove subgingival stones, you need several visits and a highly qualified doctor.

Therefore, it is best to remove stones not from ordinary dentists, but from periodontists who specialize in the treatment of gum disease. This applies primarily to patients with periodontitis who have subgingival dental deposits in periodontal pockets. If you have only supragingival dental deposits or, then you can safely contact a regular dentist.

After ultrasonic cleaning, all teeth must be polished, either with special polishing brushes and pastes, or with the help of. Polishing in this case occurs due to a water-air mixture containing granules of an abrasive substance.

Dental stones: photos before and after their removal

On average, the price of tartar removal is about 100 rubles per 1 tooth, including polishing.

2. How to remove tartar at home -

Some patients use, which many non-professional sites are full of, promising people complete elimination of tartar. To disappoint you, these methods not only do not work, but also harm the enamel of the teeth and gums. For the sake of interest, you can familiarize yourself with them - at the link above.

It is impossible to remove well-mineralized tartar and dense pigment plaque with any home remedies. However, not too pronounced pigment plaque and partially mineralized small calculus can be removed using the following modern means dental care:

What do dental stones lead to?

Smell from the mouth -
microbes release substances that smell bad. Agree that it is unpleasant even to talk with a person, and even more so to kiss when an unpleasant smell comes from the mouth.

Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis and periodontitis) –
gum disease is infectious. Microbial plaque and tartar release toxins and inflammatory mediators that trigger the inflammation process in the gums. Inflammation is first characterized by swelling and redness of the gums, bleeding, pain when brushing your teeth - such symptoms are typical for.
If gingivitis is not treated in time, then the inflammation captures not only the marginal gum, but also the bone tissue, and also leads to the destruction of the dentogingival attachment. As a result, gingivitis turns into. The latter (in addition to maintaining all the symptoms of gingivitis) is characterized by the development of tooth mobility, suppuration from periodontal pockets, atrophy of bone tissue and exposure of the roots of the teeth ...
Caries -
it must be remembered that cariogenic microorganisms that are part of soft and hard dental deposits - in the process of digesting food residues, release hydrochloric acid. This acid destroys the tooth enamel at the point of contact, after which the defect is colonized by microflora and the tooth begins to rot.
You can see what caries looks like on a tooth cut in the article:
→
Diseases of the oral mucosa –
the accumulation of microbial flora on the teeth contributes to the development of inflammation in the oral mucosa, which can manifest itself in the formation of erosions, ulcers, and even necrosis of the mucous membrane, the development of stomatitis ...

Deterioration of the course of concomitant chronic diseases –
cardiovascular, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, etc. This happens due to the absorption into the blood of toxins released by microbial plaque. Toxins are carried with the blood stream and affect the functions of organs and systems.

Prevention of tartar -

The only prevention is oral hygiene. Regular and properly conducted. An entire article is devoted to this issue on our website:, but we list the most important points below.

Basics of good oral hygiene –

Teeth are brushed absolutely after every meal - this is the main and basic rule.

Before using a toothbrush and paste, it is necessary to clean the interdental spaces from food debris with a dental floss (floss), because. the bristles of the toothbrush do not penetrate deep into the interdental spaces. This is the second most important rule.

Hygiene outside the home is carried out according to the principle - dental floss (you can use it anywhere, including at a party, on the street) + chewing gum. But chewing gum alone will not save you from tartar.

Sources:

1. Add. professional ,
2. Based on personal experience work as a periodontist,
3. National Library of Medicine (USA),
4. American Academy of Periodontology (USA),
5. “Therapeutic dentistry. Textbook "(Borovsky E.V.).

It is known that there are quite a lot of bacteria in the human mouth. One of the places of their accumulation is tartar (plaque), which contains up to 1000 billion bacteria in 1 g of material. Serious dental diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis are directly related to the formation of a stone. On the initial stages plaque on the teeth has the appearance of whitish soft deposits along the edge of the gums. Completely it is removed only by a thorough brushing of the teeth. Already 12 hours after the appearance of plaque, microorganisms begin their work. From carbohydrates, they form a solid framework that is firmly attached to the surface of the tooth. In addition, acid is formed, leading to dental caries. Microorganisms grow, and plaques on the teeth increase more and more and become denser. The stone takes on a yellowish tint.

Stones on the teeth

Mineralized microbial plaque on the teeth is a tartar that has arisen due to the fact that it was not removed on time with the help of hygiene procedures. Pour supragingival and subgingival stones on the teeth.

When examining teeth supragingival stones visible to the naked eye.
Subgingival- usually not visible to the naked eye, they are localized in periodontal pockets. They can only be detected with special instruments when probing these pockets or during dental operations.

Tartars consist of inorganic (up to 70%) and organic (up to 30%) components. Inorganic - consist of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate. Leukocytes, microorganisms, protein-polysaccharide compounds are part of the organic components.

Most often, plaque forms near the central group of the lower teeth (near the large salivary glands). This is because the mineral substances contained in saliva have a beneficial effect on the teeth, but, before reaching the tooth, they act on plaque.

Dental plaque, populated by many microorganisms, in the adjacent gum provokes inflammation.

Reasons for the formation of tartar

Areas in the mouth where plaque builds up and there is no necessary self-cleaning of the teeth are ideal for plaque formation. Deposits become hard over time. Tartar can occur not only on the teeth, but also deposited on the prosthesis or crown. A rough filling surface, orthodontic and orthopedic plates, improper positioning of teeth are a risk zone for tartar. On average, his education takes 6 months.

Initially, the clinical manifestations of tartar deposits are as follows:

Bad breath.
and unpleasant sensations of itching in the gums.

In the future, tartar grows deep and appears as spots (dark) on the teeth.

This leads to gum detachment and periodontitis.

Dentists consider the following factors to be the causes of this defect:

Plaque forms on the teeth 2 hours after brushing. Therefore, poor oral hygiene is main reason appearance of tartar.

Other reasons are:

Chewing food on one side of the jaw.
Improper or irregular brushing of teeth.
The wrong brush.
The predominance of soft foods in the daily diet.
Taking certain medications, such as antibiotics.
Tartar is intensively deposited under the influence of nicotine in smokers.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Increased salivation.
Unbalanced nutrition. An excess of sweet, fried, fatty and a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet.
Metabolic disorders (increased content of phosphorus and calcium salts in saliva).
The predominance of carbohydrates in the diet.
Bite disorder.

Dentists distinguish between subgingival and supragingival tartar. The supragingival calculus is clearly visible on the teeth. He becomes the cause bad smell from the mouth, bleeding gums, the basis for the development of caries and inflammation of the gums (gingivitis and periodontitis). As a result of these diseases, teeth loosen over time and, if a person does not receive adequate treatment, fall out.

How to know if you have tartar

Soak a cotton swab in the iodine solution and wipe your teeth with it close to the gums. Plaque and tartar will become very noticeable. Stones are especially visible in smokers.

Removal of stones from teeth

10 years ago the only effective method removal of tartar was considered mechanical cleaning. Nowadays, in most dental clinics, the use of manual techniques has been discontinued.
Now cleaning of tartar is done as follows: the presence of gum disease is determined by a hygienist. After the diagnosis begins professional cleaning teeth.
First of all, hard dental deposits are removed. In order not to damage the tooth enamel, ultrasonic scalers are used. If there is such a need, then the procedure is carried out under local anesthesia (using a gel or spray).
Further, the AIR-FLOW system, which is a sandblasting machine, removes plaque from the teeth. They do it this way: a jet stream under pressure is directed to the tooth and removes plaque in the most inaccessible places.
A healing gel containing fluoride is applied to the teeth. This increases the strength of tooth enamel.
After brushing, you should change your toothbrush and refrain from drinking coffee, tea, carbonated drinks and smoking.

Cleaning teeth from stone with folk remedies

Even if a person brushes his teeth regularly 2 times a day, this does not guarantee that he will not get plaque. The stone can form in hard-to-reach places. In this case, of course, it is best to go to a specialized dental clinic, especially since dentists warn that it is impossible to get rid of tartar at home. However, people are hindered by the pathological fear of the “dental chair”, and the procedure for cleaning the teeth is not at all cheap.

It turns out that for many centuries traditional medicine has been helping to remove tartar. Reception medicinal decoctions from herbs and rinsing the mouth with tinctures and solutions helps dissolve tartar and helps strengthen the gums.

However, it is desirable that from the variety of folk remedies that have come down to us from time immemorial, the compositions and infusions for removing tartar should be helped by a dentist.

Burnt salt cleans teeth from stones and reduces bruising in the form of an ointment.

Tartar prevention

The main method of prevention is the careful removal of tartar in the dentist's office. It is also necessary to carry out such hygienic measures for the care of the oral cavity:
Brush your teeth 2 times a day: before bed and in the morning. First, starting from the lateral sections, you need to clean the upper jaw from the outside and inside. After (brush movements from top to bottom) front teeth. On the mandible the brush moves from bottom to top in the same sequence. Cleaning movements in each "department" should be at least ten.
Use brand name toothbrushes and toothpaste. Abrasive pastes have the ability to remove plaque, but they will not cope with hard deposits. Get a special paste from tartar. She, softening the stone, contributes to its removal.
You need to change your toothbrush every 3 months. The dentist will help you choose it according to the degree of hardness (soft, hard, medium). It is better if it is with artificial bristles, and the hairs are of the same thickness and length. In it, unlike a brush with natural bristles, microorganisms do not accumulate. There are special brushes for children.
Rinse your mouth thoroughly after breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Use dental floss after each meal to remove food debris. Avoid using toothpicks as they can damage the lining of your mouth and gums. Hard fruits and vegetables (carrots, apples, cabbage) remove plaque well. They are especially useful for children who have yet learned how to use a toothbrush.
In order to prevent the occurrence of tartar, you need to use pastes containing fluoride.
It is noticed that when taking drugs for the treatment of nephrolithiasis, tartar also softens and is easier to remove with toothpaste. Taking these drugs helps prevent the formation of stones on the teeth.

For people who care about their health, the answer to the question: “Should I remove tartar” will be unequivocal. Just like brushing your teeth, you need to get rid of tartar. Funds can be of great help in this regard. traditional medicine, which will help prevent the formation of hard plaque on the teeth. Some of folk recipes that help in the fight against gum disease and mineral deposits on the teeth are given in our article. However, we must not forget about professional oral hygiene and visit the dentist every six months, because folk remedies will not be able to remove tartar, they only help to prevent its formation.

Very often the most beautiful smile spoil stains and plaque on the teeth, despite the observance of all hygiene rules, tartar does not want to leave our teeth and can spoil the whiteness and health of the teeth. Unlike plaque, which daily forms a thin film of food debris and bacteria living in oral cavity Tartar is a mineralized deposit on the surface of the teeth that cannot be destroyed at home.

Tartar - what is it?

Tartar is hard calcareous deposits that gradually appear on the tooth enamel. Most often, such formations begin to grow in the neck of the tooth, in the gaps between the teeth and in hard-to-reach places where sufficient hygienic treatment is not carried out.

Plaque appears immediately after eating, after a few hours a huge amount of bacteria that process food and release various substances, fasten it to the surface of the tooth, forming an increasingly thickening film.

If it is not regularly cleaned off, then after 7-10 days, soft plaque gradually crystallizes, minerals linger on its surface, and it turns into tartar.

The formation of tartar ends in about 6-7 months, which is why dentists advise seeking help at least twice a year, this allows you to get rid of dental deposits before tartar is completely formed.

Classification of dental deposits

Dental deposits are divided according to the location from the location:

Supragingival - located above the level of the gums, they are easy to see on the surface of the tooth in the form of whitish or yellowish deposits, most often they form on the inside of the teeth.
Subgingival dental deposits - located deep in the gums, located in the gum or periodontal pockets, they cannot be seen during a normal visual examination, the presence of such deposits is determined by the dentist. Subgingival tartar forms in people after 40 years of age and often leads to tooth loss.

Impact of tartar on health

Tartar not only imparts unpleasant appearance teeth, but also seriously harms the health of the oral cavity.

More than 90% of such formations are colonies of microorganisms that multiply in the mouth. In such quantity, they not only become a source of infection for internal organs, but also change their properties, turning from neutral microorganisms into pathogenic microflora that causes inflammatory gum disease. In this case, tissues are destroyed, the roots of the tooth remain open and are further negatively affected by tartar.

The teeth are attached to the bony base at the bottom and in upper jaws, with the help of thin connective fibers. Tartar is formed not only on the outer part of the tooth, but also penetrates deep into the gums, it gradually destroys the connection of the tooth with the jaw and causes the development of periodontitis.

Microorganisms in the tartar in the processes of vital activity secrete various acids that destroy the tooth enamel and cause superficial caries.

The saliva formed in the oral cavity at the same time has a bactericidal effect and helps to neutralize the effect of acid on the tooth tissue; in the presence of tartar, it cannot get on the surface of the tooth and protect it from the effects of acids formed during chewing.

Reasons for the formation of tartar

In order to successfully fight the disease, you need to know exactly the cause of its occurrence. Knowing why tartar is formed, it is easier with the help of prevention to prevent its occurrence.

Teeth cleaning is the main method of preventing tartar

The main reason is poor oral hygiene. The procedure of daily brushing of less than 5 minutes, an incorrectly selected toothbrush, poor-quality or inappropriate toothpaste, not following the rules for brushing your teeth, all this leads to the accumulation of plaque, which gradually turns into tartar.

If you follow the weight of the rules for caring for your teeth, then their health can be ensured if, after any meal, get rid of the remnants with the help of dental floss, and then brush your teeth thoroughly.

In addition, follow all the rules of brushing your teeth and visit the dentist for professional teeth cleaning at least 2 times a year.

Favorable factors contributing to the development of tartar:

The habit of snacking and the use of a large number of carbohydrates and carbonated drinks,
chewing disorder,
Diseases of the internal organs,
Predominantly soft foods
Smoking and drinking alcohol.

A disease such as tartar, its causes and risk factors are present in almost every person on earth, and only careful adherence to all the recommendations of dentists and regular cleaning of teeth can maintain oral health for many years.

What does tartar look like?

To find out what tartar looks like, it is enough to carefully examine your teeth in the mirror. In almost everyone, white, yellowish, or brown plaque can be seen in the tooth sockets, on the inside of the teeth, or between the teeth. Such plaque is not removed with the help of improvised means and does not differ from a tooth to the touch.

Indicates the presence of tartar bad breath resulting from the vital activity of bacteria, bleeding gums and loose teeth.

What does tartar look like, photo various kinds- supragingival and subgingival calculus can be seen in the photo below:

Methods for getting rid of tartar

You can get rid of tartar only with the help of professional methods and the help of a qualified dentist. If plaque is easy enough to clean at home, then calcareous dental deposits are not simply removed from the surface of the tooth.

Tartar - the symptoms of this disease appear gradually and are not immediately evident, the teeth become not so white, and there is a small plaque on the inside, few people immediately pay attention to such trifles, and tartar at this time destroys the gums and teeth. Regular visits to the dentist should become habitual, only professional teeth cleaning 2 times a year can help get rid of the disease.

Methods for removing dental deposits

The old and almost unused way of removing tartar today among the Saami is brushing the teeth with hand tools. The dentist used hooks and hammers to break off pieces of stone and scrape off the remains from the surface of the teeth. This method was very painful and unpleasant for the patient, therefore, as soon as other methods appeared, it was no longer used.

Ultrasonic teeth cleaning

With the help of a special device, ultrasonic vibrations break up dental deposits, while not affecting healthy tooth enamel at all. Thanks to the cavitation effect, not only plaque is easily and painlessly removed, but the subgingival cavity is also disinfected and the entire surface of the tooth and gums is cleaned. In this way, any deposits can be removed, but if the tartar is very dense and has accumulated over time, special agents are used to soften it, after which it is very easily scraped off the surface of the teeth.

After cleaning the teeth with ultrasound, the enamel is polished, this allows you to make the surface very smooth, for the prevention of dental deposits, since it is in the cracks and roughness of the tooth that food debris and bacteria accumulate. Then the dentist can strengthen the tooth enamel with special applications with fluorine and calcium. This will help to remove microscopic cracks and will prevent further destruction of the enamel and the formation of tartar.

Laser therapy

Removal of tartar with a laser is based on the effect of laser beams on water molecules in dental deposits. This method provides complete cleaning of the tooth without contact and allows you to quickly and painlessly get rid of any dental deposits.

Does it hurt to remove tartar?

Modern methods of cleaning the tooth allow you to almost painlessly get rid of plaque, sometimes with ultrasound examination there is a slight soreness and then the procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Laser tooth cleaning is absolutely painless.

Tartar prevention

Knowing why tartar appears, it is easy to understand what measures need to be taken to prevent its development.

Brush your teeth regularly and thoroughly, ask your dentist to help you find a good toothbrush and recommend you toothpaste suitable for your teeth. Today, there are many brands of good toothpastes that specialize specifically in the prevention and removal of plaque, such pastes are recommended to be used together with regular toothpaste, no more than 1-2 times a week.
Try to limit sweets in food, caramel sweets and carbonated drinks are especially harmful to teeth.
After each meal, be sure to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with special solutions.
Solid fresh fruits and vegetables help remove tartar – if you eat at least one apple a day, you can reduce the risk of tartar by 20%.
Be sure to visit the dentist regularly, it is much better and cheaper to undergo preventive examinations and treatment than to pay large sums for the restoration of teeth.
Talk to your dentist and ask about how to deal with tartar, they may be able to give you recommendations and tips that are right for you.
In the presence of carious teeth, periodontal or gum disease, it is necessary to undergo complete treatment and restore oral health, only in this case, you can count on the complete removal of tartar.
Sometimes metabolic disorders become the cause of diseases in the oral cavity. In these cases, even the best dental treatment and oral hygiene will not be able to restore dental health. If, after visiting the dentist, plaque continues to form very quickly and bad breath occurs, it is necessary to visit a therapist and conduct an examination to exclude diseases endocrine system and digestive systems.
Seek help only in specialized clinics with qualified specialists, despite the safety of laser and ultrasonic teeth cleaning procedures, if the devices are used improperly, tooth enamel can be destroyed and tooth tissues can be damaged.

Taking simple preventive measures can significantly slow down or even prevent tartar formation, but regular visits to the dentist should still become a good habit.

Tartar is hardened plaque that forms in adults and very rarely in children, and even then if there is a history of such serious illnesses like heart disease or diabetes. Usually, stones on the teeth do not form if a person devotes enough time to hygiene procedures to remove plaque. If the plaque is not allowed to harden, stones cannot form. Therefore, a thorough cleaning of the teeth is the best remedy prevention.

Plaque from tea and cigarettes can provoke the formation of tartar. The constant presence of such plaque on hard-to-reach enamel surfaces inevitably leads to the formation of dense deposits, including stones, over time.

Tartar can occur on one single tooth or on several teeth. The lower anterior teeth, as well as the upper and lower molars, are most susceptible to calculus formation.

Signs:

tartar provokes bad breath;
gums begin to itch and bleed;
dark spots appear on the visible surfaces of the teeth that cannot be removed with a brush.

Tartar can form not only on enamel, but also on crowns or dentures. Therefore, those who do not have their own teeth in their mouths should not relax, but only dentures - on them, just like on the surface of the enamel, a stone can form. Of course, it will not lead to the appearance of caries on the crown, but it can provoke inflammation of the gums, as well as significantly spoil the appearance of the prosthesis.

Kinds

Dentists distinguish between two types of tartar − subgingival And supragingival, the classification is based on the localization of hardened dental deposits.

subgingival

Subgingival tartar is insidious in that only a dentist can detect it using a special probe, since it is hidden from the eyes by the edge of the gum, in the periodontal pocket and fits snugly to the root. The color of such a stone is usually dark brown or greenish black, it is extremely hard and consists mainly of calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate and calcium carbonate. If the subgingival stone is not removed in a timely manner, it can provoke an inflammatory process in the periodontium and cause periodontitis.

supragingival

Unlike subgingival, supragingival calculus can be diagnosed independently, it stands out on the surface of the enamel with its yellowish or brownish color and is easily separated using a dental excavator. It is usually located above the crest of the gingival margin, so it is easy to recognize. In terms of density, the supragingival calculus is much softer than the subgingival one, as it belongs to salivary type formations and consists mainly of epithelial cells, bacteria, mucus and food debris. If it is not removed in a timely manner, over time, hardened plaque turns into caries.

What does it look like

Outwardly, tartar looks like an ugly dark spot on the inner or outer surface of the tooth. At first, it is quite soft and has a light whitish color, but over time it darkens, grows and spoils the appearance of the teeth. Gradually, the stone grows so strongly that it begins to injure the edge of the gum, provoking its bleeding. In advanced form, it can even provoke the appearance of gingivitis.

Photo: tartar on the inside of the lower teeth

Composition

The composition of subgingival and supragingival calculus is somewhat different from each other. The former is harder and is dominated by calcium and magnesium phosphate and calcium carbonate. The second one is softer in structure, it is formed by their plaque, in which there are quite a lot of epithelial cells, bacteria, mucus, food debris, which are bound by viscous saliva.

The stone does not form overnight, its formation is a long process that begins at the edges of the gums and at the neck of the tooth. It is these areas that are the most favorite place for the accumulation of plaque, pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Causes

If you have stones, the reason may be as follows:

insufficient or unsystematic oral hygiene;
use of poor-quality utensils for brushing teeth;
the presence of a large amount of plaque;
violation of salt metabolism;
increased viscosity of saliva, as a result of which it loses its cleansing properties and does not wash off plaque;
insufficient intake of solid food, which promotes self-cleansing;
one-sided chewing of food (only the left or only the right side of the jaw) as a result of the presence of diseased teeth in the patient's mouth;
increased roughness of the enamel surface as a result of filling or orthodontic treatment;
smoking.

Consequences

Unfortunately, many do not consider tartar a problem and are in no hurry to contact the dentist. If plaque has formed on the inner surface of the teeth, it is invisible during communication, and the person mistakenly believes that there is no problem. In fact, the disease is quite dangerous for the health of teeth and gums. To begin with, its location at the very edge of the gums can eventually cause gum bleeding, contribute to the formation of a periodontal pocket, in which food debris will accumulate, causing inflammation in the gums.

If the stone is not removed in time, the consequences can be the most deplorable, up to the loss of teeth. After all, dental deposits are an excellent breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria, in particular those that cause caries.

We will not intimidate you - the process of formation of tartar is long, so if you systematically visit the dentist, you can get rid of the cause in a timely manner, preventing complications. It is believed that for dental health, a procedure should be performed at least 2-3 times a year, including the removal of dental plaque. In this case, you will be able to avoid such unpleasant consequences as the appearance of bad breath, the occurrence of caries and inflammatory diseases gums

Treatment

Treatment of stones consists in their removal, there are no other methods of treatment. Sometimes it happens that tartar under the influence of solid food itself is removed from the surface of the teeth, but this should not be hoped for. It is better to contact a specialist in a timely manner, who will quickly and painlessly remove all dental deposits from the surface of the enamel.

If earlier the removal of tartar was carried out mechanically, that is, they simply scraped it off the surface of the enamel, today there are more modern and painless methods for removing deposits. Among them, the most common are ultrasonic, laser and chemical methods of brushing teeth.

With help ultrasonic method the dentist will very quickly and effectively remove all dental deposits without injuring either the gum or the surface of the enamel.

With help chemical method it is possible to soften even very hard dental deposits. The dentist applies acidic and alkaline products to the surface of the stone, which quickly and effectively dissolve all hard deposits.

The laser cleaning method allows you to crush the stone and remove it from the surface of the tooth.

The procedure for removing tartar is completed by polishing and polishing the enamel, during which the teeth become shiny and their surface smooth.

Prevention

Tartar and the reasons for its appearance should force the patient to reconsider his attitude to oral hygiene, since it is precisely because of insufficient or improper cleaning of the teeth that stones form on their surface.

It is very important to brush your teeth twice a day, morning and evening. But it is equally important to do it correctly, thoroughly cleaning all surfaces of the teeth from plaque, including hard-to-reach ones. The systematic use of the floss allows you to most effectively clean the hard-to-reach interdental spaces where plaque can accumulate.

Dentists recommend not saving on high-quality toothpastes and brushes, since the effectiveness of hygiene procedures depends on them. Using an electric brush with different nozzles allows you to more thoroughly clean the surface of the teeth from plaque.

It is also necessary to consume solid food, which contributes to the self-cleaning of teeth from plaque.

People who are not particularly interested in the structure of their body think that the teeth are completely immobile and firmly fused with the jaw bones. And this is absolutely not the case: the dental roots are connected to the jaw bones with the help of connective tissues, and together with the gums, this is periodontal tissues. Surely many are familiar with the word periodontitis, but not everyone knows what it means until they encounter 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 calculus deposits on the teeth. What is tartar? How do stones appear on the teeth?

What is tartar?

Tartar is partially or fully mineralized microbial plaque on the teeth that has not been removed by daily hygiene procedures.

There are two types of stones:

supragingival. When examining the teeth, they can be seen with the naked eye.
Subgingival. Formed in periodontal pockets. They cannot be seen with the naked eye. These dental deposits can be detected during periodontal operations or during probing of periodontal pockets.

Why does tartar form?

After eating, a certain amount of food remains in the oral cavity. The remains of food are used by bacteria to maintain their vital functions. It has been established that if hygiene procedures were not carried out for just one day, then during this time the amount of bacterial plaque is doubled. Nutrients are necessary for bacteria not only for reproduction, but also for the production of enzymes (enzymes), with the help of which bacteria are tightly attached to the surface of the teeth.

In the absence of proper hygienic care of the oral cavity, bacterial colonies attached to the teeth merge and form significant bacterial masses. At the initial stage, the formed plaque is still soft and can be easily removed with a toothbrush. But over time, 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 on the surface of bacterial colonies, and the plaque gradually hardens. During the mineralization process stratification of new bacterial colonies. This is how tartar grows. Also, plaque releases inflammatory mediators and toxins, which is why inflammation on the gums begins.

The main signs of inflammation of the gums:

Blueness or redness of the gums.
Bleeding gums while brushing teeth.
Pain in the gums.
Appearance of pus in periodontal pockets.
Tooth 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, in which regularly dentogingival fluid is produced. This liquid contains a large amount of proteins and salts, which are vital for bacteria to grow colonies. When inflammatory processes occur in the gums, there is an increase in the production of periodontal fluid, and as a result, bacterial colonies receive even more salts and proteins. That is, when inflammation occurs in the gums (periodontitis, gingivitis), the rate of formation of tartar increases sharply.

Other causes of tartar formation include:

Regular consumption of very sweet or fatty foods that leave a heavy 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 is not involved in the process of chewing food.
Smoking. The tars found in tobacco smoke accumulate on the teeth, forming a dark coating.
endocrine disorders.
Metabolic disease.

The consequences of the formation of tartar

The formed stones on the teeth can cause:

Tartar removal methods

The only and most reliable method of getting rid of stones on the teeth is professional removal of hard deposits. Qualitatively and professionally, only a dentist can remove hard deposits on the teeth. Folk methods, various rinses and lotions, do not act on tartar at all.

Methods professional removal tartar:

How to avoid the formation of tartar?

To prevent the formation of stones on the teeth, it is recommended:

Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Be sure to rinse your mouth after eating.
Limit your intake of fatty and sugary foods. Include fresh fruits and vegetables and solid foods in your diet.
Chew food with both sides of the mouth.
When dark plaque appears on the teeth, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination. This will help to find out the reasons for the change in acid-base balance.
Visit the dentist regularly.

Taking preventive measures and visiting your dentist regularly will help slow down or even prevent the formation of tartar on your teeth.