Do you know the difference between tooth stains, dental plaque, tartar and dental calculus?

In life, we often hear

Tooth stains? Tartar? Plaque? Calculus?

Many people are wondering: Who are they?

Although these substances are attached to the tooth surface

But it is fundamentally different

They have their own "characteristics"

01. Tooth stains

Tooth stains are stains that adhere to the surface of the teeth.

Divided into exogenous and intrinsic pigmentation

Usually caused by daily habits

● Exogenous pigmentation

Refers to the external staining of teeth. Generally speaking, it is caused by tea stains, smoke stains, mineral pigments in food with high pigment content in daily diet, etc., which makes the teeth appear gray or yellow.

● Intrinsic coloration

During the period of tooth development, improper use of drugs such as tetracycline can affect the dentin and cause the teeth to show abnormal color, which is called tetracycline teeth . In addition, if there is too much fluoride in drinking water, it may also cause fluorosis , with white-pink and brown patches on the tooth surface. If the dental nerve is necrotic, it can also turn the teeth black after combining with bacterial decomposition products.

02. Tartar

Tartar is also called soft plaque

Refers to the yellowish-white soft stains that stick to the surface of the teeth

Dental plaque is composed of microorganisms, desquamated epithelial cells, white blood cells, mucin in saliva, proteins, lipids and a small amount of food debris.

Tartar likes to stick to the surface of teeth and under the gum line, mostly on the lingual side of the lower front teeth, and is yellowish white or grayish white. ** Tartar is relatively soft and easy to remove by brushing, but it can be deposited on the tooth surface again within a few hours after teeth cleaning. The bacteria in the tartar and their products irritate the soft tissues of the mouth.

03. Dental plaque

Dental plaque is the precursor of dental calculus

Dental plaque biofilm

Dental plaque is the main cause of tooth decay and periodontal disease

After eating, food residues remain in the mouth and form dental plaque within a few hours. When the amount of dental plaque is small, it is invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen through a dental plaque indicator.

Dental plaque is like a "bacterial community" composed of different bacteria, which settles on the tooth surface, tooth gap or denture (denture, restoration) surface. Because the "community" is firmly rooted, it cannot be washed away by water or rinsed, and can only be removed by mechanical methods.

04. Dental calculus

Dental calculus is formed by the mineralization of dental plaque.

Yellowish white, darker due to tea drinking and smoking

Based on the gingival margin, it can be divided into supragingival calculus and subgingival calculus.

Dental calculus stimulates the gum tissue and causes inflammation, which is one of the causes of periodontal disease. Dental calculus is relatively hard and is tightly attached to the teeth. It cannot be removed by brushing teeth normally, and ultrasonic cleaning is required at a regular dental medical institution.

Dental calculus itself easily absorbs more bacterial toxins, irritating the periodontal soft tissues, causing congestion and edema of the gums, and causing bleeding when brushing teeth. As time goes by, more and more dental calculus accumulates, causing the gaps between teeth to become wider, halitosis to worsen, gums to shrink, teeth to become loose and shifted, and teeth to fall out , so timely treatment is needed.

To thoroughly remove tartar, you need to wash your teeth regularly!

Dental plaque and tartar are the main culprits of periodontal inflammation. The harm of tartar to periodontal tissues is mainly because it provides a good place for plaque to adhere and bacteria to breed. Therefore, in the prevention and treatment of periodontal tissue diseases, it is very important to completely remove tartar. Therefore, it is recommended that you wash your teeth regularly .

Teeth cleaning is an important means of preventing periodontal diseases. It is generally recommended to clean teeth every six months. Regular teeth cleaning has many benefits, which can prevent problems such as bleeding gums, gingivitis, loose teeth, and prevent oral diseases such as caries.

Note: The pictures in this article are from the website, and some of the text is excerpted from the Internet. The copyright belongs to the original author. If there is any infringement, please contact us and we will delete it.