Poor hygiene is not to blame for dark stains on teeth. This is where Priestley's plaque comes from and how to get rid of it

2023 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-07-28 10:38

Most likely, only a dentist will help.

What is Priestley's raid

Priestley's plaque is small spots or streaks on the teeth. They are brown, dark green or black in color and usually appear in the gingival pocket.

According to statistics, 1–20% of people face this problem. Most often these are children.

The term "Priestley's plaque" is used only by Russian dentists. In international practice, this definition is considered outdated, and the stained areas on the teeth are simply called black stains, as opposed to the usual "white" plaque.

Where does Priestley's raid come from?

The main reason for the formation of stains on the enamel is anaerobic chromogenic bacteria. These are, for example, microorganisms of the Capnocytophaga, Leptotrichia, Fusobacterium, Corynebacterium and Streptococcus species.

They are not dangerous and live in the mouth of every person. But these bacteria have one peculiarity: when there are many of them, they produce large amounts of hydrogen. If at the same time the level of iron in saliva is increased, the two elements enter into a chemical reaction. As a result, insoluble iron salts are formed, which are deposited in the form of a dark plaque on the teeth.

There are many reasons why there is too much iron in your mouth. Scientists have not yet fully figured out them, but they suggest this:

• The diet is high in dairy products, vegetables, eggs, and other foods high in iron.
• Drinking water contains an increased amount of the same mineral.
• A person takes iron supplements. In theory, they can also increase salivary iron levels. In practice, the connection between the intake of dietary supplements and the appearance of dark spots on the enamel has not yet been traced, but just keep in mind this possibility.
• Gums bleed. In this case, excess iron is secreted by red blood cells trapped in saliva.
• Children are affected by the age-related characteristics of the digestive system and the composition of bacteria in the oral cavity.

Is Priestley's raid dangerous

In general, no. Quite the opposite. Several studies show that such stains on teeth reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Dentists consider Priestley's plaque to be a mild pathology that does not affect dental health.

But the pigmented plaque has a rough surface, from which it can be difficult to clean out food debris. Hence the bad breath.

How to remove Priestley's plaque

Immediately accept that coping with it at home, most likely, will not work. A toothbrush and paste, even with abrasive elements, are powerless against insoluble iron salts, as well as calcium and phosphorus, which are also abundant in these deposits.

The only reliable way is professional cleaning at the dentist. It will probably have to be repeated every 2-3 months, as plaque often reappears.

If insoluble salts no longer settle on the teeth, it means that the level of iron in saliva has dropped or the bacterial composition in the oral cavity has returned to normal. In children, the latter often occurs with age.

What to do to prevent Priestley's raid

First you need to deal with bleeding gums. The dentist will help you with this.

Diet correction can also be an effective method of prevention. It is necessary to reduce the amount of foods high in iron for several weeks, switch to water with a different mineral composition, and also abandon food additives that contain this element.

But keep in mind: this does not necessarily help. Scientists still have not fully figured out the reasons why the composition of bacteria in the mouth changes and the level of iron in saliva increases. Perhaps the key role in the appearance of Priestley's raid is played by a factor that has not yet been established.