How to remove plaque from teeth, get rid of and clean tartar between units at home: how to remove, remove the soft layer

The question of how to remove plaque from teeth and between crowns at home remains relevant for everyone who wants to have a snow-white smile and fresh breath. Despite the fact that deposits usually do not cause any discomfort to a person, it is imperative to get rid of the problem. Otherwise, the risk of developing caries, gingivitis and other oral diseases increases.

The patient can resort to professional help or use traditional methods. Which option is optimal in a particular case is best decided together with your doctor. The problem cannot be ignored, since scientists have long proven the existence of a direct dependence of the condition of incisors, canines, and molars on the quality of hygienic care.

What is dental plaque, how does it happen?

Food particles, dead cells, saliva components accumulate on the enamel every day, and bacteria appear. At first, the buildup is soft and easy to clean off. In the absence of regular hygienic care, the layer hardens and turns into stone.

As a rule, several units are affected at once. The surface acquires various unnatural shades (yellow, gray, black, greenish) and becomes rough to the touch. Your mouth begins to smell unpleasant.

The most common occurrence is supragingival deposits. They are located on the visible part of the crown. Subgingival teeth are not visible to the naked eye and go under the gum (sometimes reaching the very tips of the roots). This problem can be localized on the enamel, adjacent to the gingival tissues in the interdental spaces, fissures, and on filling materials.

Comments

I had my teeth cleaned at the dentist for the first time in my life just a few months ago, and today I noticed that there was too much plaque again. How so??

Olga (02.09.2020 at 20:39) Reply to comment

Editorial staff of the portal UltraSmile.ru (09/06/2020 at 09:15) Reply to comment

I have an “extended” tooth, but it has become darker than mine, the doctor explained that a change in color can occur over time. Is it possible, in addition to a crown, to achieve lightening of just such a tooth?

Mira (09.23.2020 at 07:15) Reply to comment

Tell me, if you have crowns in visible places and your own teeth, what is best to use for cleaning? That is, the listed products for home use are also suitable for cleaning crowns. Or is there something simpler for crowns, or vice versa more effective?

Inga (09.23.2020 at 09:00) Reply to comment

Tell me, which method of professional teeth cleaning is the safest and most gentle? And what is the most correct and effective method of home cleaning? I'm afraid of ruining the enamel.

Elena (09/23/2020 at 11:57 am) Reply to comment

We were surprised about the banana peel! I knew about fruit acids. I have increased sensitivity of all my teeth, because my gums have risen, if I express myself correctly, that is, the necks of my teeth have become slightly open. Visually it’s not very noticeable, but there is a reaction to sweet/sour. In my case, there’s probably no way to whiten my teeth at all? Thank you.

Victoria (09/23/2020 at 12:32 pm) Reply to comment

Twice a year I do ultrasonic teeth cleaning. The dentist advised me to buy an electric ultrasonic toothbrush. But I heard that electric brushes destroy teeth. Is it worth buying?

Zlata (11/20/2020 at 6:10 pm) Reply to comment

Hello, can you tell me how often I can do water-abrasive cleaning? If six months have not yet passed since the last procedure, and I am still not satisfied with the cleanliness of my teeth, can I repeat the procedure, or will frequent use harm my teeth?

Irina (11/20/2020 at 6:59 pm) Reply to comment

Doesn’t all this cleaning harm the enamel and make the teeth, although plaque-free, sensitive? I'm afraid to even do regular brushing; I think I could damage my teeth or wear away the enamel.

Sveta (11/20/2020 at 07:41 pm) Reply to comment

I don't smoke, but I still have plaque. I drink a lot of coffee, so they are yellow. I used to brush with baking soda instead of tooth powder. Then they told me that I shouldn’t do this often because it could erase the enamel.

Anna (11/20/2020 at 08:29 pm) Reply to comment

A high-quality paste will help you and it’s expensive, and after one brushing I also clean it with tooth powder. Those. twice a morning, for example. Well, you also don’t need to overdo it with cleaning, so that you don’t have a dry mouth later.

Marina (11/20/2020 at 09:08 pm) Reply to comment

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How is it formed

Before you clean plaque and remove all excess from your teeth at home, you need to understand how it appears and spreads. This process occurs under the influence of the following factors:

poor oral hygiene;
a predominant amount of soft food and “fast” carbohydrates in the diet (confectionery, sugar, baked goods);
lack of saliva.

A healthy person secretes enough secretion to wash away any leftover food. However, if the products are sticky, sugary, viscous, then they are not washed out naturally. Many people neglect to rinse their mouths after lunch or snacks, and as a result, a thin whitish layer appears on the enamel in which microorganisms actively multiply.

In less than a day, there are so many microbes that their metabolic products begin to affect the enamel structure. In the absence of high-quality cleaning, the accumulated mass hardens within 48 hours. The stone can no longer be removed on its own; a person will have to seek professional help from a dentist.

Causes of deposits

Complete and final removal of soft plaque on teeth at home is impossible without establishing the prerequisites that contributed to its occurrence. The most common provoking factors:

Poor hygiene care. This includes irregular brushing, using a low-quality or inappropriate brush, and not using floss, which effectively cleans the interdental spaces.
Consumption of “fast” carbohydrates with foods and drinks (for example, sweet soda).
The diet constantly contains coloring foods (coffee, tea, berries, red wine, sauces).
Bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse). At the same time, it is not so important whether a person smokes cigarettes or vape or hookah.
Bite abnormalities. The pressure on the jaw with such disorders is distributed unevenly, so it is quite difficult to clean the units.
Various disorders (acute and chronic). For example, pathologies of the salivary glands (less minerals reach the bone tissues), diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and gastroesophageal reflux disease lead to the appearance of deposits. Due to increased acidity, the number of pathogenic bacteria quickly increases.

Causes of tartar

Stone is a common problem; it forms in all people due to the peculiarities of the modern lifestyle. But the speed at which it appears is different for everyone. Hard plaque forms faster as a result of the following factors:

insufficient oral hygiene;
predominance of soft foods, sugar and fast carbohydrates in the diet;
uneven chewing of food on each side of the jaw;
excessive consumption of black tea and coffee;
smoking;
metabolic disease;
saliva is too viscous.

Why is dental plaque dangerous?

Soft and hard deposits seem harmless at first glance. They lead to serious problems such as:

formation of stone on the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth, in the interdental spaces;
inflammatory processes of mucous membranes, including gums;
bad breath that does not go away even after rinsing and brushing;
disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract.

Anything that accumulates on the enamel must be removed in a timely manner. Otherwise, negative consequences cannot be avoided.

Home Remedies

Home remedies for plaque removal are rather preventative. In order to maintain dental health, it is necessary to follow the rules of hygiene:

Brush your teeth twice a day with a toothbrush and suitable toothpaste.
Use toothpicks and dental floss after meals, as the brush cannot reach hard-to-reach places.
Use mouthwash regularly.

Small plaque can be removed using pastes containing abrasives or tooth powder. When using them you need to be careful, as you can damage not only the enamel, but also the mucous membrane of the gums. You need to be even more careful if you decide to remove plaque from your teeth with whitening agents - soda, hydrogen peroxide. Their uncontrolled use can cause problems with dental health.

Dental removal techniques

These can be both primitive options and high-tech procedures. The choice of intervention method depends on the following factors:

the patient's well-being;
clinical picture (thickness, structure and density of the layer);
age category;
localization of formations.

It is acceptable to use several types in combination. They will serve as a supplement and speed up getting a positive result.

Ultrasound for removing solid deposits

How to remove plaque from teeth, from interdental spaces and other hard-to-reach places? The ultrasound method comes to the rescue. The waves crush the hardened layer, and then the broken off particles are washed away with water.

This method is suitable for cleaning both internal and external surfaces, areas between crowns. The structure of the incisors, canines and molars does not suffer from this procedure, however, if the patient has increased sensitivity, or there were too many layers, some discomfort may be felt for several days after visiting the dental office.

Laser removal

The laser beam removes the old stone absolutely painlessly by evaporating water into it. The tooth surface remains intact and is not damaged, the condition of the gums improves due to their tone. An additional advantage of the technique is its disinfecting (antibacterial) effect. There is also a drawback that may seem significant to some, but may not matter to others - it is high cost.

Manual removal

A classic option that has been used for decades. Hard deposits are torn off or scraped out with special devices - curette hooks.

This method in itself is traumatic, especially if the hardened layer has penetrated deep into the subgingival space. However, in some cases, this processing option is the only acceptable one due to certain contraindications and restrictions.

The patient may experience pain or other discomfort. To alleviate the condition, the doctor pre-treats the mucous membranes with a gel or anesthetic spray.

Chemical method

How will you clean your teeth from plaque in this case? The procedure can be used independently or in combination with others. More often, dentists choose the second option, and after chemical treatment they use laser, ultrasound or mechanical cleaning.

The essence of this technique is to apply a special gel-like composition with active ingredients (hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide, etc.) to the surface of the enamel. A reaction occurs as a result of which the deposits are softened and washed away with water or removed manually using special tools.

Gentle Air-Flow sandblasting

Air-Flo is a method that is optimal in the presence of soft layers and a thin bacterial film. This way you cannot get rid of the hard stone.

During the procedure, the units are treated with a mixture of water, air, and special abrasives in powder form. The composition is supplied under a certain pressure.

Based on the results of medical manipulations, the overgrown layer is easily removed, without affecting the structure of the incisors, canines and molars, even if they are milk teeth. Patients who have chosen this technique note an undeniable advantage - the shade of the enamel becomes several tones lighter than before.

Teeth cleaning from tartar in the clinic

In dentistry, to remove tartar, you can use the service of professional teeth cleaning (or professional oral hygiene). This service is available in almost all dental clinics. Several professional methods are used to remove tartar:

Ultrasonic cleaning. This is the most accessible and widespread method. The doctor uses a special device - a scaler. It creates low-frequency vibrations that gently peel away hard deposits from the enamel. The doctor then uses water and air pressure to cleanse the mouth. Ultrasound is suitable for both supragingival and subgingival deposits. This method is safe for enamel and gums. At the end of the procedure, the dentist polishes and fluorides the teeth to reduce sensitivity and strengthen them.
Laser cleaning. The procedure is similar to ultrasonic cleaning, the only difference is in the device used. Laser is considered a more modern method, effective and safe. The advantage of this method is that the laser promotes rapid gum regeneration and has an antibacterial effect.
Air Flow. A modern way to clean the mouth. More expensive compared to the first two options. For cleaning, the doctor uses a pressure consisting of water, air and sodium carbonate. This method differs in that in addition to removing tartar, the enamel is also lightened.

There are also options for chemical and mechanical cleaning, but due to their traumatic nature and low efficiency, modern clinics do not use them.

How to remove plaque at home

The effectiveness of traditional methods depends on the thickness and density of the accumulated layer. If the deposits have appeared recently and are moderately soft, it is enough to clean them in the usual way using a brush.

When yellowish or dark pigmentation appears on the enamel, harder bristles and products with abrasives (Lacalut White, Rembrandt “Anti-tobacco and coffee”, etc.) come to the rescue. However, such compositions should be used only after consulting a dentist and with his approval. By scratching the enamel, you can significantly worsen the condition of your incisors, canines and molars, causing caries and more serious oral diseases.

The patient should simultaneously receive answers to two questions from the doctor:

how to clean your teeth from plaque at home so that it is quick, painless, but effective;
what mixtures and solutions to use for safe cleansing without negative consequences.

Many patients use improvised components that have been highly effective for many years. One of the most popular is activated carbon. The tablets are crushed with a spoon or mortar to obtain fine-grained particles that remove deposits and polish the surface. A damp brush is dipped into the resulting powder, after which standard cleaning is performed for several minutes. After using the drug, you should rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. To prevent increased sensitivity, this method cannot be used more than 2-3 times a week.

Baking soda is also often used. The procedure is exactly the same as in the previous case. In the same way, it is indicated to use industrial tooth powder.

Essential oils (lemon, tea tree) are also highly effective. This is the safest home option since there is no exposure to abrasives. There are several ways to use these compounds:

add 4 drops of oily liquid to a glass of warm water, rinse your mouth after your usual regular brushing;
drop onto the brush before cleansing without paste.

But do not rush to use advice without recommendations from a dentist.

Step-by-step instruction

Cleaning steps

So, what does peroxide give us if it is applied to the surface of a tooth with pronounced plaque:

The process of oxidation of stones occurs, they become loose.
Completely suppresses bacterial flora, strengthening soft tissues.
Does not destroy enamel, does not remove minerals from its composition.

Removing tartar with hydrogen peroxide has its own nuances that should be observed:

Use only 3% peroxide, as higher concentrations can cause burns to the mucous membrane.
Never use this product in its pure form. Always dilute with water.
While fighting tartar, avoid eating sweets, coffee and black tea.
After cleaning, it is not recommended to drink or eat for about 2 hours.

Remember that the process of dealing with persistent plaque does not mean rinsing your mouth with peroxide once. The process is long, but the result will exceed all your expectations, believe me.

Cleaning tartar with hydrogen peroxide is carried out in several stages:

Applications - dilute 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and half of clean warm water in a glass container. Soak a cotton pad in the resulting liquid and apply to problem areas. Leave for 10 minutes, while using your hands to firmly press the disc against the gum area. After 10 minutes, the mouth should be rinsed with warm water. Applications are carried out daily for 5-7 days.
Mouth rinse - dissolve 3 tablespoons of peroxide in half a glass of warm water. Rinse your mouth after every meal for a week.
Abrasive cleaning is the final stage, when it is already possible to trace positive dynamics, but not all of the deposits have gone away. You need to apply a few drops of peroxide to a hard toothbrush and thoroughly brush all your teeth.

Usually this sequence of actions is enough to dissolve plaque and make your teeth as snow-white as possible.

Precautionary measures

When we remove tartar with hydrogen peroxide, we get not only a new smile, but also health. Everything that is done should be related primarily to oral health, and then to aesthetics. Peroxide allows you to remove harmful bacteria without disturbing the natural balance of microflora. To avoid any problems when using this method of fighting tartar, always follow these precautions:

Do not swallow peroxide as it may cause stomach pain and discomfort.
Do not use the method if your gums are bleeding excessively, or if you have progressive periodontal disease.
Always pay attention to how you feel after the procedure. If there are no unpleasant sensations, then continue fighting the stone.

Experts do not recommend using peroxide for longer than 7 days. If it was not possible to remove the stone during this time (this happens with long-term persistent deposits), then the problem should be solved together with the dentist.

If pain, discomfort, or ulceration of the mucous membrane occurs, the use of peroxide should be discontinued immediately. Don't think that the more you apply to your tooth, the whiter it will be. This doesn't work because color is formed from a number of internal factors.

The most important advice that you must learn: peroxide is not a panacea! If you have serious problems with your teeth, or there are acute and chronic infectious and inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, then it is better to immediately contact a specialist and not self-medicate. While you are hoping for peroxide, time is ticking. If there are no noticeable results, and the condition of your teeth is only worsening, then, unfortunately, you cannot do without a doctor.

Features of plaque removal in children

Some dental techniques are contraindicated in childhood. This applies to ultrasound, laser, chemical treatment. Such caution is associated with a high risk of damage to tissues sensitive to external influences.

Air-Flow gentle cleaning allowed. It is suitable for children over 6 years old. Manual processing is also acceptable. The dentist must act extremely carefully. Any wrong movement and children's sensitive enamel may be damaged. In addition, almost every child is very active, and injury from dental instruments is possible due to negligence.

It is important for parents to monitor what their son or daughter eats and whether regular hygiene procedures are carried out properly. The diet should contain a minimum of sweets and baked goods; it is better to give preference to fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits.

The process of formation of dark plaque on teeth -

As we said above, dark plaque on teeth is formed due to various pigments that are deposited on the surface of the teeth. But to be completely precise, it is thanks to chromophores (these are compounds in pigments that determine their color). Chromophores can be of organic and inorganic origin. For example, organic chromophores include the so-called polyphenolic compounds, which include “tannins”, “furfural”, etc. These compounds can be found in coffee, tea, wine and fruits.

Tobacco smoke (polyphenols, etc.) also contains a large number of dark-colored pigments of organic origin. As for inorganic chromophores, these include metal ions - primarily Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ (divalent and trivalent iron), Cu 2+ (divalent copper), as well as Mn 2+ (divalent iron). valence manganese). And I think - everyone now understands that the formation of pigmented plaque on teeth occurs due to the deposition of organic and inorganic chromophores on the surface of the teeth. A particularly interesting process will be the deposition of metal salts on the teeth of children and adults, which we will discuss in detail below.

Important: dark plaque on teeth forms much more slowly if the surface of the teeth is clean and does not have a layer of soft microbial plaque or hard tartar. But, if there is soft microbial plaque on the teeth that has not been properly removed (during oral hygiene), or there is already a tightly attached layer of partially mineralized plaque, then in this case the pigments are integrated into their structure much faster.

Those. to the bacterial film on the surface of the teeth, as well as to a rough surface (for example, fillings) - pigments will “stick” much faster than to a completely clean tooth surface. The same applies to tartar, which is dental plaque mineralized by calcium salts contained in saliva (primarily calcium phosphate). And chromophores, i.e. pigments - they can integrate perfectly even into the crystal lattice of calcium phosphate, which, together with bacteria, makes up tartar.

How effective are traditional methods?

Some people don’t think about how to remove plaque from their teeth, remove it from their gums, and not harm themselves. In pursuit of a snow-white smile, methods are used, the use of which leads to more serious consequences. For example, many often turn to soda, salt, and activated carbon. All of these are abrasives. Dentists do not advise getting carried away with such cleansing options and carrying out the procedure frequently, since hard particles of different sizes scratch the enamel. As a result, it is gradually destroyed, the pathological process affects deeper layers, and caries occurs.

Traditional recipes show good results if the formations are soft. They cannot cope with stone: only a doctor can remove petrified structures.

Choosing the right brush is already half the battle

When hard plaque appears on your teeth, you need to approach the choice of brush very responsibly. What parameters should it have?

Be multi-tufted with rounded edges and man-made fibres.
Have a small nozzle.
Have medium hard bristles.

Electric and ultrasonic brushes get good reviews.

Electric brushes make a large number of movements in one minute. With the help of pulsation, partially mineralized plaque is broken up.

Ultrasonic brushes have a specially built-in generator that generates oscillatory ultrasound waves. They can remove small hard deposits.

Preventing deposits

Instead of thinking about how to get rid of plaque at home when you find it on your teeth, it is better to take care of following preventive recommendations. Preventive action:

Regular oral hygiene. Systematic cleaning with paste and brush at least 2 times a day, morning and evening, is important.
Using additional cleansers after meals and snacks throughout the day. These can be threads (floss), an irrigator, a rinse aid, or a special brush.
Minimizing the consumption of tea, coffee and other coloring drinks and foods.
Getting rid of bad habits, this especially applies to smoking.
Introducing hard vegetables and fruits into the diet to naturally cleanse the enamel during chewing.
Periodic examinations by a dentist (at least once every six months).
Refusal of confectionery, baked goods, soda.
Replace the brush every 2-3 months.

Several conclusions can be drawn about how to remove plaque: cleaning at home does not always show high effectiveness, especially if the deposits appeared a long time ago and have hardened. Professional procedures are effective and take place very quickly, but require additional time and financial costs.

To prevent such problems from occurring, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of prevention. First of all, high-quality oral hygiene is extremely important, in the absence of which colonies of pathogenic microorganisms will settle on hard and soft tissues in the mouth, whose vital activity leads to unpleasant consequences for the human body.

Classification of plaque by location

Deposits on visible surfaces where they can be easily removed;
Plaque under the gum (in the pocket) requires professional hygiene and causes inflammatory processes.

Plaque is diagnosed independently - local changes in the color of the enamel can be seen by looking in the mirror.

If the deposits are minor or are located in hard-to-reach places, they can be diagnosed with special substances that color the plaque.

Preventive visits to the dentist will help keep your mouth clean. Only a specialist can identify the problem in a timely manner.

Black plaque on a child’s teeth: treatment

Both pigmented microbial plaque and chromogenic staining of teeth due to the activity of actinomycetes bacteria are removed equally in both children and adults, but there are nuances depending on age. For example, Air-flow can be used no earlier than from 12-15 years of age (at the discretion of a specialist), ultrasonic cleaning can be used from 14 years of age. Therefore, in younger children, removal of dark plaque is carried out only with the help of a polishing brush and paste.

Removing dark plaque from a child (before and after photos) –

The main problem with removing pigment plaque caused by chromogenic staining (deposits of insoluble iron salts) is that usually the black plaque returns within 2-3 weeks. Therefore, you don’t really go to the dentist. And in order to prevent the reappearance of black plaque as much as possible, you need to follow the recommendations from the list below.

Prevention of chromogenic staining –

solve the problem with drinking water (we already said above that drinking ordinary tap water, as well as water purified by an osmotic filter, increases the risk of stains by 13 times),
stop taking chewable forms of vitamins,
if you have bleeding gums, you need to see a dentist and have gingivitis treated,
if you use pastes with stannous fluoride, switch to pastes with sodium fluoride or amino fluoride,
use toothpastes that contain pyrophosphates, sodium citrate, polyaspartate, as well as polydone and bromelain (all these components prevent pigments from attaching to tooth enamel),
use toothpastes with lactoferrin (this glycoprotein has the ability to bind 2 trivalent iron ions per 1 molecule),
Buy your child an Oral-B electric toothbrush (from 3 years of age).

All this will reduce the risk of black plaque deposits, and thanks to an electric toothbrush, you can also polish your child’s teeth yourself. Here it is necessary to clarify that many models of Oral-B electric toothbrushes are for adults - in some modes they can also be used by children from 4 years old, but under the supervision of adults. By the way, you can read about how lactoferrin prevents the formation of black plaque from insoluble iron salts in an English-language study at this link.