Dental plaque and tartar develop over time in everyone. While you can still remove soft plaque yourself with a toothbrush and toothpaste, hard tartar can only be removed by a dentist. You can effectively prevent dental plaque by careful oral and dental hygiene. With the help of staining tablets, you can make plaque visible and thus check how clean you are when brushing your teeth. Get detailed information about plaque and tartar here.
How is plaque formed?
Plaque forms when teeth are not carefully cleaned on a regular basis. In this process, the formation of plaque occurs in several steps: After the last brushing of the teeth, a fine biofilm (pellicle) first forms on the tooth surface. This consists of various proteins from saliva and ensures that important minerals can be stored in the tooth enamel and that the teeth are protected from aggressive acids. Over time, bacteria accumulate in the pellicle, which was originally free of bacteria. In addition, food residues (especially certain sugar building blocks) as well as tissue cells and saliva components also remain on the tooth surface. More bacteria can easily attach to the sugar building blocks in particular, so that the development of plaque is accelerated.
Soft plaque
Over time, more and more bacteria thus accumulate on the teeth and a whitish-yellow plaque develops. If you discover such discoloration on your teeth, it is urgent time to brush your teeth thoroughly. This is because in the first hours and days, plaque is still water-soluble and can be easily removed by yourself. Plaque can form on the teeth, but also in the spaces between the teeth. Plaque also forms easily on the necks of the teeth. In addition, the bacteria can settle in the gum pockets. Since the bacteria in the plaque produce foul-smelling compounds, they are responsible for the bad breath often caused by plaque. They can also convert sugar into acid, which in turn attacks tooth enamel. Over time, this makes the enamel more porous until it eventually becomes so brittle that bacteria can penetrate the enamel, leading to tooth decay.
Solid tartar
If plaque is not removed, it hardens and becomes tartar within a few days. Calcium salts from saliva are mineralized in the process, hardening the plaque. How quickly plaque develops into tartar varies from person to person. In sensitive individuals, tartar can form after only two days. Tartar in itself is not dangerous to the teeth or gums. However, it is problematic because its rough surface makes it easier for other bacteria to settle and form plaque again. In addition, various metabolic processes under the tartar can cause the pH value in this area to drop. As a result, the acids and bacteria found under the tartar can damage the tooth.
Caries and periodontitis as consequences
If plaque is not removed regularly, tooth decay, periodontitis and gingivitis can result. However, poor oral and dental hygiene is not always to blame. In addition, the following factors can also promote the development of plaque:
- A poor diet
- Closely set teeth
- The germ composition in the oral cavity
- An insufficient amount of saliva in the oral cavity
- Protruding edges of crowns or fillings
Even with very careful oral hygiene, it is not always possible to keep teeth completely free of plaque and tartar. That is why at least one visit to the dentist per year should be mandatory for adults, and at least two for children.
Plaque: what to do?
Unlike hard tartar, you can easily remove soft plaque yourself. Brush your teeth thoroughly and also don’t forget to clean the spaces between your teeth with dental floss or an interdental brush. This usually allows you to get rid of plaque easily. Ideally, brush your teeth for at least three minutes each morning and evening. It is best to use the so-called sweeping technique: Place the toothbrush at the junction of the tooth and the gum. Then sweep the plaque away with small wiping movements from red to white. However, do not press down too hard, otherwise the enamel and gums may be damaged.Various home remedies – for example, baking soda – are always discussed for removing plaque and tartar. Before you resort to such a home remedy, you should consult your dentist. This is because some home remedies can damage the enamel instead of protecting it. Therefore, it is best to reach for toothpaste and brush to care for your teeth.
Make plaque visible with staining tablets
To make the plaque on the teeth visible, so-called staining tablets are used. These ensure that the plaque on the teeth and the oral mucosa turns colorful. This makes it easy to see where the teeth have not yet been cleaned with sufficient care. Some coloring tablets can also distinguish between old and new plaque, making it even easier to identify particularly neglected areas. They are often used by dentists to check the brushing behavior of children. However, the tablets can also be used privately – but not more frequently than once every two weeks. For small children as well as for people with an iodine allergy, the tablets are not suitable.
Tartar should only be removed by a dentist
You can remove plaque yourself – but for stubborn tartar, a visit to the dentist is necessary. Because against tartar, toothbrush, dental floss and Co. can no longer do anything. Tartar can be removed either by the dentist himself or as part of a professional dental cleaning. In general, it is recommended to have such a cleaning performed once or twice a year. If tartar is not removed regularly, the risk of various dental diseases such as caries increases. However, do not attempt to remove tartar yourself under any circumstances. Otherwise, you can cause severe damage to your tooth enamel.
Prevent plaque and tartar
With the following tips and tricks, you can counteract the development of plaque and tartar:
- Brush your teeth regularly and floss the spaces between your teeth.
- Use mouthwashes.
- Clean your tongue regularly with a tongue scraper.
- Eat a healthy diet and avoid especially sugary foods.
If you wear braces or dentures, be sure to clean them just as carefully as your teeth. Because plaque can also form on dentures and braces and endanger adjacent teeth.
