As mentioned, our oral cavity is never sterile. It is always colonised by bacteria. That's why it doesn't take long after a thorough tooth cleaning, about 24 hours, for the tooth surfaces to be covered again by a thin film of bacteria. We dentists speak of a biofilm, plaque layer, plaque or "Zahntüüfeli". The biofilm is soft and can be easily removed with a toothbrush using the right technique. If this is not done, or not done carefully enough, the plaque becomes thicker and thicker and over time minerals from the saliva are deposited. This causes the plaque to "fossilise" and we speak of tartar. This can no longer be removed with a toothbrush alone. This requires special instruments and the skill of our trained specialists - our dental hygienists. One more thing is important: even if you don't eat anything, you still have bacteria in your mouth. Accordingly, the biofilm on your teeth also forms when you fast.
The bacteria in the biofilm (plaque) and the microscopic pores of the tartar cause gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), caries (cavities), bad breath and, in susceptible people, periodontitis (inflammation of the periodontium). This leads to the formation of so-called gum pockets, to a reduction in the anchorage of the teeth and eventually to tooth loss. There are indications that untreated periodontitis also has a negative effect on general medical concerns, such as cardiovascular diseases or pregnancy.
Our dental hygienists remove tartar, soft plaque and stubborn discolouration from your teeth. The cleaning also includes hard-to-reach places in interdental spaces and between the roots of molars and wisdom teeth. At the end of the professional teeth cleaning, the tooth surfaces are polished to a high shine with a rubber cup and polishing paste. This gives your teeth back a smooth surface, you a fresh feeling and a radiant, pleasant smile. Our dental hygienists will also show you how to clean efficiently, even in hard-to-reach places, using appropriate tools such as dental floss, dental sticks or sticks and interdental brushes (interdental brushes or "bottle cleaners"). In this way, you can reliably prevent caries, gum disease and bad breath and maintain your dental health through appropriate oral and dental hygiene at home.
