Technical terms about prevention and oral hygiene beginning with Z

Dental plaque – Everyday word for plaque. Plaque

Periodontal pocket – The gap between tooth and gum. If it deepens, a space arises that no brush can reach any more. Probing depth Periodontal pocket cleaning

Tooth neck – The transition from crown to root. If the gums recede, it is exposed – and there the protective enamel is missing. Hypersensitivity Dentine Gingival recession Root caries

Toothpaste – A carrier for fluoride and a mild cleaning agent. What matters is the fluoride content, not the flavour. Fluoride RDA value

Enamel – The hardest substance in the body – and the only one the body cannot rebuild. What has been worn away stays away. Dentine Remineralisation

Dental floss – For narrow interdental spaces that no brush fits into. What matters is guiding it along the tooth, not sawing it into the gums. Interdental space Interdental brush Retainer

Tartar – Hardened deposit that minerals from saliva have solidified. It cannot be brushed away and offers new deposits a rough surface. Plaque Scaler

ZMF – Dental assistant with further qualification. A training level with extended duties in prevention. ZMP Dental hygienist

ZMP – Dental prevention assistant. She carries out the professional tooth cleaning and gives instruction in oral hygiene. ZMF Dental hygienist

Sugar – Food for the caries bacteria. What matters is not the amount at one time but how often a day. Caries Nursing bottle caries Xylitol

Tongue coating – A layer of bacteria on the back of the tongue. The main source of bad breath and a reservoir for recolonising the teeth. Halitosis Tongue cleaner

Tongue cleaner – Scraper or brush for the back of the tongue. Used daily, it noticeably lowers the number of bacteria in the mouth. Tongue coating