Technical terms about prevention and oral hygiene beginning with S

Acid – Attacks the enamel directly. After acidic food one should wait half an hour before brushing – otherwise the brush removes the softened enamel. Erosion Enamel

Scaler – Hand instrument for removing hard deposits. Working with it is manual work and takes time; ultrasound complements it but does not replace it. Tartar Concrements Curette

Probing depth – The distance between the gum line and the base of the pocket, measured in millimetres. Up to three millimetres counts as healthy. Periodontal pocket Periodontitis PSI

Saliva – Rinses, buffers acids and supplies minerals for the repair of the enamel. If it is lacking, the risk of caries rises quickly. Remineralisation Dry mouth