Tartar
Tartar is pathological deposits formed from food particles and plaque, which are formed as a result of the interaction of deposits with saliva and waste products of bacteria living in the oral cavity.
If the deposits are not removed in time, tartar can lead to the development of serious diseases, the outcome of which, at best, is a noticeable discomfort of the patient, and at worst, the loss of one or more teeth.
CAUSES OF TARTAR DEVELOPMENT
The main reason for the development of deposits on the surface of teeth is the vital activity of microbes living in the oral cavity and their interaction with food residues. The process is aggravated by poor oral hygiene, eating habits – eating sweets, drinking carbonated drinks, etc.
It should be noted that tartar is formed in everyone, even in people who carefully monitor the cleanliness of teeth and oral cavity, but do not do periodic professional brushing of teeth.
Approximately 80% of adults can have tartar. The basis for its development is plaque and microorganisms. At the beginning of development, the tartar is soft and easy to remove. Over time, plaque hardens, minerals are deposited in it, and dark tartar is formed. Most often, the stone is formed in places that are difficult to clean and cannot self-clean when chewing food. People who eat mainly soft food in structure are also predisposed to the development of tartar.
There are other reasons that can lead to such a problem. Among them are the use of too soft a brush, poor–quality toothpaste, the presence of removable dentures, smoking, prolonged use of medications, in particular antibiotics, some diseases of the digestive tract.
The rate of transformation of plaque into stone varies and ranges from 4 to 6-7 months, and then further spread occurs throughout the oral cavity. First, plaque and calculus form on the inside of the dentition – in the place where it is most difficult to keep clean, and then spreads throughout the oral cavity.
RISK FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TARTAR
Previously, tartar was a problem of the adult population, but more and more dentists are discovering tartar in young patients. The reason for this is improper oral care, the use of fast food and soda. Also the reason is the problem of children’s smoking.
SYMPTOMS OF TARTAR DEVELOPMENT
Tartar does not form immediately – first, a dark-colored border is formed at the neck of the tooth. The most pronounced edge is on the inside of the teeth. After a while, the rim becomes more noticeable from the front surface of the teeth.
Over time, the size of the rim increases, and there is also bleeding, bad breath. With the aggravation of the process, tartar affects the gums and interdental gingival papillae.
TREATMENT OF TARTAR
It is impossible to prevent the re-formation of tartar. The only treatment is regular removal in the dentist’s chair. The frequency of the procedure is no more than 2 times a year. The dentist first removes the formed plaque and stone, and then grinds and polishes the surface of the teeth.
Modern methods are the most gentle for tooth enamel. Currently, the most popular is ultrasonic teeth cleaning. It is this method that allows you to clean the surface of the tooth without harming it.
The whole procedure is painless, but causes considerable discomfort to the patient, so ultrasound brushing of teeth is usually carried out with local anesthesia.
