What is tartar and how to get rid of it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The sooner you start fighting, the more chances you have to do without a dentist.

What is tartar

Tartar is a hard, yellowish substance that forms on teeth if they are poorly cleaned.

The process looks like this. Did you eat. A thin transparent sticky film of food debris and saliva protein molecules remained on the teeth - the so-called plaque. By itself, this film is not terrible for the teeth. However, it is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria living in the mouth.

If it is removed in time (for this it is enough to properly brush your teeth), the plaque is relatively safe: bacteria do not have time to multiply on it. But if you neglect hygiene, problems begin.

Firstly, bacteria and their waste products multiply on the plaque, and under it an active process of tooth decay begins - caries.

Secondly, the film becomes thicker and retains more saliva. The liquid from saliva evaporates over time, but the calcium salts contained in it remain. The deposit hardens - calcifies. From a soft and thin film, it turns into a hard formation - tartar.

Why tartar is dangerous

The stone has a destructive effect on the teeth and gums. This is what it leads to.

1. Caries

Acids released by bacteria destroy tooth enamel. The more bacteria collect under the stone, the more active the carious process.

2. Inability to thoroughly brush your teeth

The stone acts as a "shield" that covers the colonies of bacteria and prevents them from being removed even with the most thorough home cleaning.

3. Bad breath

The stone has a rough, porous structure. Therefore, it retains more food debris and saliva on itself. The processes of decay begin, the breath deteriorates.

4. Gum disease and tooth loss

The stone penetrates under the gums, injures them. In addition, it pushes the gums away from the teeth - "pockets" filled with bacteria appear. This becomes the cause of diseases that lead to the loss of teeth: gingivitis, periodontitis …

How to remove tartar

If tartar has already appeared, you will not be able to get rid of it at home. Only a dentist can handle this. Your doctor will suggest several ways to remove the stone.

1. Ultrasonic cleaning

This is the most common option. Cleaning is performed with a special device that creates ultrasonic vibrations that remove deposits from the teeth - not only visible, but also hidden under the gum. If the tooth enamel is thinned, the procedure can be painful. Therefore, as a rule, cleaning is carried out under local anesthesia.

2. Laser cleaning

In this case, plaque and stone are removed from the teeth with a laser beam: it crushes and removes the stone layer by layer. Unlike ultrasonic cleaning, laser cleaning is painless and therefore does not require anesthesia.

3. Dry cleaning

A special gel or paste with acids and alkalis is applied to the teeth. These substances soften the tartar. Then it can be removed from the tooth with a regular brush.

Dry cleaning is also painless. It is even pleasant: gels and pastes are specially made delicious. But this procedure has a drawback: it will not be able to clean out the stone formed under the gum.

What to do to prevent tartar from appearing

not that hard.

1. Brush your teeth regularly. Regularly - twice a day for 2 minutes. Choose a brush with soft or medium bristles to avoid injury to your gums. And be sure to clean hard-to-reach surfaces on the inside of your teeth and behind the back molars.
2. Use a fluoride toothpaste. It strengthens the tooth enamel and also kills bacteria. The optimum fluoride content in toothpaste is 1,350–1,500 ppm. Look for this value on the package or tube.
3. Don't neglect your dental floss. It is almost the only way to remove plaque and prevent the formation of calculus between the teeth. For hard-to-reach places where the thread will not reach, you can use an irrigator.
4. Use an antiseptic mouthwash daily.
5. Rinse your mouth with water after eating anything sweet or starchy: bread, pasta, potatoes, corn, and so on. Bacteria love these foods.
6. Stop smoking. Smoking accelerates the formation of plaque and tartar.
7. Visit your dentist at least every six months. The doctor will be able to notice the formation of tartar at the initial stage, when it will be easiest to remove it.