Tartar: What everyone should know
We all want a beautiful white smile. But statistics show that many of us spend as little as 40 seconds on even a basic toothbrush. But during the day we drink strong coffee with sweets, and have snacks without thinking about the consequences for our health.
And all this causes the formation of unpleasant tartar in every sense. Let’s take a closer look at what you need to know about tartar and how to get rid of it.
Why Tartar Forms
Tartar is an invisible, sticky biofilm made up of food scraps, saliva, and bacteria. It builds up on everyone’s teeth, even while they sleep. The soft plaque can easily be removed with a regular toothbrush – all you have to do is brush your teeth regularly and thoroughly. But due to poor oral hygiene, plaque becomes dense, and tough and over time it becomes mineralized. Tartar is formed.
Insufficient oral hygiene is not the only reason for the formation of hard plaque. Tartar can also occur.
- Smoking
- Bad bite
- Overconsumption of bland and caloric foods
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Metabolic (metabolic) disorders
- Use of poor quality dental products
In ancient times, before toothbrushes existed, people tried to remove plaque by brushing with salt, charcoal, pepper, oil, wool, bark, and even iron.
How tartar is harmful
At first glance, dark plaque on your teeth doesn’t seem like a serious problem. “Yes, it’s not aesthetic, it’s not pretty, but it’s nothing more than that,” many of you will think. And they would be wrong. The consequences can be as serious as tooth loss – and it is only a matter of time.
The plaque-borne pathogens are growing bigger every day. As they live, they actively produce acids that attack the teeth and gums. This leads to dental caries and periodontitis, two of the most common dental diseases. But while the first one can be treated quickly, the second one is difficult and not always curable. These problems can be avoided by getting rid of dental plaque in time.
Can you remove tartar by yourself?
It is impossible to remove hard dental plaque with a regular toothbrush. But many people have not lost faith in their abilities, so they look for other simple and readily available means. There are many “helpful” tips for this problem on the Internet, but unfortunately, they are not always effective, and many of them are even dangerous. After all, most of these recommendations are often made by those who do not have even a basic medical education. Here are some “granny” tips that promise to make your teeth whiter than white, and explain why you should not self-medicate.
Tip #1.
Grate a radish and add the juice of one lemon. Rub the mixture into your teeth twice a day.
Dentist’s comment
Lemon juice is known to contain acid. A few decades ago dentists, indeed, first treated the enamel with a special acid, under the influence of which the tartar softens, and then proceeded to the mechanical cleaning with special tools. But you cannot remove hard plaque at home, wielding a toothbrush alone. But you can easily get a complication in the form of enamel erosion and hypersensitivity of teeth due to uncontrolled and unnecessary use of acid.
Tip #2
Boil the bark of walnut branches. Use the decoction instead of toothpaste. The cleaning time should be 2-3 minutes.
Dentist’s comment
Brushing your teeth for at least two minutes and after every meal is a typical doctor’s recommendation. However, the effectiveness of herbal decoction is as nil as drinking water. If you brush your teeth without toothpaste, you will at best remove soft plaque. Mineralized plaque cannot be removed by any, even the best toothbrush, or professional toothpaste, and certainly not by herbal decoction.
Conclusion:
Tartar is most often the result of poor and irregular oral hygiene and other contributing factors. It accumulates in hard-to-reach places: in narrow interdental spaces, on the inside of incisors, in the sub-gingival area – where a toothbrush is completely powerless. Plaque cannot be removed by yourself. So don’t waste your energy, time, and health, see a professional who will get rid of the problem within one hour.
Ultrasonic cleaning: remove and do no harm
In many European countries, tooth cleaning with ultrasound is a mandatory preventive procedure in the fight against common dental diseases. This is more of a minus than a plus, as most of our patients are used to putting it off until the last minute and visiting the dentist when there are visible symptoms.
The treatment is performed by a dental hygienist or periodontist using modern technology, the ultrasound scaler. After examining the patient and eliminating any contraindications, the specialist selects a suitable head for the device and starts the treatment.
Ultrasonic cleaning is a painless procedure, however, in case of hypersensitivity of teeth or deep cleaning of periodontal pockets local anesthesia can be applied.
The high-frequency ultrasonic waves of the scaler break down stubborn dental plaque and destroy harmful bacteria even in the hardest-to-reach areas. The duration of the cleaning depends on the number of teeth to be treated but rarely exceeds one hour. The treatment ends with a polishing of the teeth. A completely smooth surface will reduce plaque accumulation and keep your teeth cleaner for longer.
Children with a milk bite should not be treated with ultrasound. From the age of 11-12 years, the procedure is indicated.
For most patients, ultrasound cleaning is a safe dental procedure. However, it is not performed when there is an acute or exacerbation of a chronic condition, acute respiratory infection, acute respiratory distress, or any infectious disease. Ultrasound is used with caution in patients with a pacemaker.
Today, ultrasound cleaning is the most effective and fastest method for getting rid of dark plaque and restoring the natural whiteness of your teeth. Dentists recommend twice a year for preventive care and every three months for people with braces and orthodontic braces.
How to avoid dark plaque on your teeth
Follow our recommendations:
- practice good oral hygiene
- Get a good quality toothbrush and toothpaste
- Rinse with water or chew gum after each meal.
- Balance your diet
- Eat more fruit and vegetables.
- Avoid unhealthy snacks.
- Take charge of your health responsibly
- Visit your dentist and hygienist every six months.
The following simple steps can help prevent plaque and common dental problems that are harder, longer, and more expensive to treat.
Any questions? Ask us
Tartar is a common problem that cannot be solved by the patient. Only a dental office has all the necessary tools to remove even the most stubborn plaque quickly and completely without damaging your health.
Preventive measures are also important. At the consultation, DMC Tour specialists will teach you the basic rules of teeth cleaning, tell you how to choose hygiene products, show you how to use flosses and irrigators, as well as answer all your questions.
