Everyone is at risk of plaque and tartar buildup: Plaque and tartar can accumulate in anyone's mouth. They're a natural part of life and appear as a result of daily functions, like eating. Even if you brush your teeth every day, you can still develop plaque and tartar.
Did you know 68% of adults have tartar? Tartar, also called dental calculus, is a yellow or brown colored deposit that forms when plaque hardens on your teeth. Because tartar buildup on teeth is strongly bonded to the tooth enamel, it can only be removed by a dental professional.
Everyone doesn't grow tartar at the same rate. More the minerals in your saliva, faster will the plaque harden, making it grow more quickly. Some people might get more plaque if they don't brush twice or thrice a day, but other people might get less plaque even if they just brush once.
Everyone has plaque, but tartar is another story.
Having plaque on your teeth is completely normal. As we eat and breathe, bacteria form in the mouth and create this substance. However, it is only when we fail to remove plaque that it turns into tartar. This is when oral health and cosmetic issues begin to take hold.
Both plaque and tartar buildup are common dental problems. Significant plaque buildup can result in tooth decay and gum disease. Tartar is calcified plaque, a hard-mineral deposit that forms on teeth A rough, bumpy line at the base of the teeth is one sign. However, tartar also forms below the gum line.
A whopping 68% of adults have dental tartar, also called calculus. Dental tartar is a hard, calcified deposit that forms and coats the teeth and gums. If plaque is not removed on a regular basis, such as through brushing and flossing, it hardens within 24 to 72 hours and becomes tartar.
Poor oral hygiene: Most commonly, plaque and tartar buildup is the result of bad dental habits. Great oral hygiene is needed to clean away these particles on a daily basis. Snacking habits: The more often you snack throughout the day, the more fuel your natural oral bacteria have to create plaque and tartar.
Most plaque hardens within 48 hours of formation, and within several days it will become so hard that it is almost impossible to remove. This hard substance is tartar and the only way to remove it is to see your dentist for a professional scraping of your teeth.
As mentioned earlier, tartar can only be removed by a professional. During the procedure, the dentist uses an ultrasonic device with a small nozzle to remove tartar from areas or spots that are hard to reach. The process of tartar removal may or may not be painful and is dependent on several factors.
As long as you clean your mouth thoroughly, you can minimize how much tartar grows between your dental checkups. Even then, it's normal to have a few areas here or there. That's ok, as long as it's only a small amount.
Like plaque, tartar can contribute to developing gingivitis and periodontal disease. But unlike plaque, simple brushing and flossing won't do much to remove tartar. Tartar fuses to the enamel of your teeth, making it a permanent dental issue that only a professional can remove.
Tartar breaking off teeth will leave a sharp spot behind. It might be tempting to break the leftover tartar by ourselves, but it can damage gums and teeth. Thus, we should avoid removing the sharp tartar on our own. Instead, we must immediately inform our dentists and visit them for proper treatment.
Tartar build-up can start to damage teeth within only a few months. The earlier tartar is removed, the better. If you develop periodontitis because of your tartar, gaps can form between the tooth and gums.
Dentists have no hard evidence as to how frequently people need dental cleanings. Most private insurers cover two cleanings annually, and dentists recommend cleanings every six months. However, depending on your risk factors, you may require more or fewer cleanings.
Plaque and tartar are the causes of many of the most common dental problems. In fact, one study found that roughly 68% of adults deal with some level of tartar, and the presence of some amount of plaque is simply inevitable.
The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.
Clean using Baking soda– A mixture of baking soda and salt is an effective home remedy for dental calculus removal. Brushing your teeth with baking soda and salt softens the calculus, making it easy to remove. The mixture should smoothly be scrubbed on the teeth by using a toothbrush.
Myth 3: Cleaning causes gaps between the teeth.
Scaling doesn't create new spaces or gaps among teeth. It has already been created by calculus deposits and loss of bone support. The spaces had earlier been filled by debris so were not visible.
Tartar is hardened plaque that can only be removed during a cleaning by a dental hygienist. The impact plaque can have on your oral health is easily treatable and even reversible. The damage caused by tartar can cost far more to repair and may be irreversible depending the severity of the damage done.
If you take the broken piece out to observe it, you will notice it is yellow/brown in colour and very brittle, so much so that it will disintegrate into a powdery substance upon applying pressure. This will confirm the fact that it was a piece of tartar. There is not a lot to be concerned about at this stage.
It's highly recommended that you avoid attempting tartar removal at home. Doing so can damage your toothbrush, but also there's a danger of damaging your enamel.
Failing to Use Mouthwash
Plaque builds up everywhere in the mouth, including hard to reach places where your brush cannot properly clean. Using an antibacterial mouthwash after brushing can eliminate those pockets of bacteria in your mouth missed while scrubbing your teeth, tongue, and gums.
On almost any surface, a thin layer of bacteria known as biofilm can stick. That's why your gums and teeth feel like they've been covered in slime when you wake up in the morning. Biofilm is normal and happens to everyone—even if you brush, floss and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash.