Tartar is responsible for many health problems in the oral cavity. It can be the cause of bad breath, periodontitis (inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth) or gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). This can lead to the loss of one or more teeth. Therefore, prevent the formation of tartar by consistently caring for your teeth, which includes not only the right choice of toothbrush and the correct brushing technique, but also the use of other oral hygiene products. If you add to this regular visits to oral hygiene, then tartar will not give any chance.
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What is tartar
Tartar is a yellow to brownish-yellow deposition that settles on the teeth when daily oral hygiene is performed inconsistently or incorrectly. It is formed as a result of the hardening of plaque that was not well removed from the tooth enamel during brushing. Bad breath will warn about the presence of tartar. If it is not removed, over time it accumulates, forming a hard and rough layer. Tartar sticks firmly to tooth enamel and its removal requires professional intervention in the oral hygiene clinic.
How is tartar formed?
The basis for the formation of tartar is plaque, which remains on the teeth in case of insufficient or improperly performed oral hygiene. It is a sticky coating formed by food debris and bacteria present in the mouth. It cannot be removed by simply rinsing the mouth, it must be cleaned by mechanical force, i.e. with a toothbrush. Fresh plaque is soft. However, thanks to the minerals contained in saliva, it hardens in a short time (24-72 hours) and tartar is formed. Most often it occurs in places that are most difficult to clean with brushes – in the interdental spaces, on the inside of the teeth just above the gums, but also under it.
Causes of tartar formation and its consequences
Causes of tartar:
- careless, inadequate or improper daily oral hygiene
- lack of saliva in the mouth
- small interdental spaces requiring more skill and consistency in cleaning
- excessive consumption of sugar and junk food
- smoking
Consequences of dental calculus
- Gingivitis – As a result of gingivitis, bleeding and swelling occur, since because of this, harmful substances can penetrate deeper under the gums. There is a greater risk of developing gingivitis in pregnant women, diabetics and, due to hormonal changes, also in adolescents during puberty.
- Periodontitis – inflammation of the periodontium – Periodontitis is manifested by increased bleeding of the teeth due to inflammation of their hanging apparatus. It mainly affects the front teeth (one and two) on the lower jaw.
How to Prevent Tartar
- The basis is the daily brushing of the teeth and interdental spaces (all tooth surfaces on all sides) using the correct technique using a soft toothbrush, interdental brush or dental floss and a toothbrush with one bundle to clean and polish the tooth surface.
- Brush your teeth 2 times a day (morning and evening).
- Rinse your mouth thoroughly after each cleanse with mouthwash, which will not only keep your breath fresh, but will also help fight bacteria.
- Replace your toothbrush with a new one regularly. Do not use one toothbrush for more than 3 months and replace it earlier in case of wear or always after overcoming an acute infectious disease (flu, tonsillitis, cold, etc.).
- Check for plaque removal with staining tablets such as CURAPROX plaque display tablets. Staining will make any remaining plaque visible in the places you neglected while brushing. Thanks to this, you will learn to brush your teeth more perfectly.
- Use a mouth shower as an even more effective option for cleaning the interdental spaces.
- Adhere to the principles of a healthy lifestyle and limit the consumption of sugar and sugary drinks.
Mouth shower is a good helper for every family
Mouth showers are an excellent helper for the perfect and at the same time quick cleaning of interdental spaces and hard-to-reach places without leaving home. The nozzle of the oral shower blows the flow of air and water into the interdental spaces and thus effectively cleans even hard-to-reach areas from plaque deposits. Coping with an oral shower is very simple. Just choose the optimum pressure.
A shower in the mouth further improves blood circulation in the gums and effectively removes bacteria. Due to this, infection, inflammation or bad breath have no chance. The result is perfect oral hygiene, smooth and clean teeth and a better feeling of freshness. It is also an effective way to prevent tartar, dental caries and diseases such as periodontitis or gingivitis. The speed and effectiveness of the oral shower will be appreciated especially by wearers of dental braces, which will ensure perfect brushing of teeth even under braces.
How to remove tartar at home?
Tartar firmly settles on tooth enamel, so it can not be removed at home. Therefore, it is better not to try various Internet recipes and instructions on how to remove tartar yourself in a natural way. Unprofessional removal of tartar can damage tooth enamel and exacerbate problems. Instead, find an oral health professional. Rather, at home, focus on preventing tartar by taking care of your teeth regularly. If you’re still prone to tartar, try replacing a classic hand toothbrush with a sonic toothbrush. You may be interested in Philips Sonicare or Biotter toothbrushes. Electric toothbrushes work more efficiently and accurately. Combined with proper toothpaste, mouth shower and antiseptic mouthwash, you’ll prevent tartar even better.
At home, you can also try the method of drawing out the oil. Most often, heated (but not hot!) coconut oil is used for rinsing. However, other edible oils can also be used. The oil is rolled into the mouth for 10-15 minutes. Using the tongue, carefully distribute it over all the teeth and gums, and then it will spit it out. The effect of coconut oil on reducing the formation of plaque and removing bacteria from the oral cavity is confirmed by a 2015 study.
How to get rid of tartar?
Tartar can be removed by your dentist or dental hygienist. In dental dental outpatient clinics, an ultrasound device is most often used to remove tartar, which allows you to break even the hardest layers of tartar with ultrasonic waves.
The advantage of ultrasound is the rapid removal of tartar even in hard-to-reach places above and below the gums. If, after removing tartar by ultrasound, deposits still remain on some surfaces, the dental hygienist removes them with a dental scraper and curettes.
How to clean tartar from the prosthesis?
Dentures also need to be cared for through daily thorough cleaning. Plaque also forms on it. In addition to a toothbrush and toothpaste, use effervescent denture cleaning and disinfectant tablets to clean dentures. They have an antibacterial effect and eliminate mold. Cleansing pills help clean areas of dentures that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush. Due to this, it counteracts the unpleasant odor from food residues deposited on the prosthesis, which can also become the basis of tartar. As in the case of teeth, the removal of tartar from dentures requires a visit to oral hygiene.
When to visit oral hygiene and why?
Visiting the oral hygiene organs is recommended 2 times a year, in case of bleeding gums even earlier.
As part of the visit, the dental hygienist will perform:
- checking the condition of the teeth and assessing the quality of home oral hygiene
- removal of tartar and plaque using ultrasound
- sandblasting teeth (a combination of a strong stream of water, air, fine powder), as a result of which the teeth become smooth and white without yellow plaques, unwanted pigmentation and stains as a result of the consumption of colored drinks such as cola, tea or coffee
- strengthening of tooth enamel by fluoridation or the use of dental gel, which increases the resistance of enamel to acids, also supports the remineralization of incipient caries
- If necessary, he will show the correct brushing technique and help with choosing the right size of the interdental brush.
The duration of the oral hygiene visit varies depending on the current state of the dentition and the regularity of visits. However, it’s usually about 1 hour. It’s virtually painless and usually not a very unpleasant procedure that you really won’t have to worry about. You may feel pain if there are already problems in the mouth, such as increased sensitivity of tooth enamel or exposure of tooth necks. If other problems, such as incipient tooth decay or periodontal disease, are found during the oral hygiene visit during the dental examination, the hygienist will recommend visiting the dentist without delay. So you can start dealing with dental problems before they attract attention to themselves with pain and swelling.