Not removing tartar from your teeth early can cause tooth decay as the bacteria eats away at your tooth enamel. It can lead to gum diseases such as gingivitis or more seriously periodontal disease which is when your gums recede or shrink away from your teeth.
If not removed, the tartar will eventually become calcified, which is to say it will harden into a brittle layer. This hardened tartar is known as dental calculus. Bits of this calcified tartar may break off and enter the digestive system and further on into the person's blood.
The Results of Leaving Tartar on Your Teeth
Gingivitis, when left untreated, progresses silently to develop into periodontal disease affecting your gums, jawbone, and dental health.
Though possible to learn how to clean tartar off teeth on your own, the process can often take several months or years when you do it at home. Brushing and flossing only remove tartar gradually over time, as does oil pulling and using a water flosser.
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.
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.
The best way to remove the build-up of plaque and tartar on your teeth is by brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Daily flossing and using an antiseptic mouthwash will help to keep bacteria at bay in hard-to-reach areas.
Tartar removing toothpaste, baking soda, white vinegar and aloe vera all have antimicrobial properties which both treat and prevent tartar. The remaining at-home remedies focus on preventing plaque from hardening.
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.
If you don't brush and floss daily, plaque can harden into tartar. Only a dental professional can remove tartar. Extreme dental plaque and tartar can lead to: Cavities.
A symptom that can help you know if you have tartar on your teeth, even if it is not in the visible part, is halitosis or bad breath . This is because dental tartar usually smells bad, so you should keep in mind that a bad smell problem in the mouth may be related to tartar.
When tartar appears below the gum line, it can cause raised swellings that may bleed. Buildup above the gum line is yellow or tan and grows larger if not removed. Below the gum line, it may be brown or black. Only dental professionals can successfully remove tartar buildup on teeth through a process called scaling.
Plaque bacteria is constantly building up on, around and in between your teeth and this can be responsible for halitosis. As this bacteria breaks down particles of food in your mouth it can release an unpleasant smelling gas causing your breath to smell bad.
Tartar can lead to oral health issues.
At first, tartar causes irritation of the gums, which can ultimately lead to an infection called gingivitis. Gingivitis, in turn, is the first stage of gum disease—a very serious condition that has been linked to heart disease, stroke, premature birth, and respiratory illness.
It can usually be stopped and reversed if you brush, floss, use an antiseptic mouthwash, and get regular cleanings from your dentist.
While you may be wondering how to remove tartar from your teeth without a dentist, it is best to seek help from a dental professional for a clean and accurate job! Once plaque hardens into tartar, a toothbrush can't remove it.
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.
When bacteria from plaque and tartar build up on your smile, it can infect not only your teeth and gums but also supportive soft and hard tissue. This condition, called periodontal disease, progresses in three stages: gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis.
Over time, if plaque is left to build up and form tartar, this buildup will lead to tooth decay. Both plaque and tartar are highly acidic. This acid can eat through the tooth enamel, creating cavities.
Removing tartar can be painful if there is a large amount of tartar, if the gums are inflamed and / or the teeth are tender. Anesthesia is used whenever the patient feels the need for it. Anesthetic is applied to the gums using a topical anesthetic or a more effective local anesthetic.
Warning signs
Bad breath or bad taste that won't go away. Red or swollen gums. Tender or bleeding gums. Painful chewing.
Start by mixing white vinegar in a glass of warm saltwater. This solution can then be gargled once a day to aide in the removal of tartar that has formed on the region between the teeth and gums. The mixture should be made from two tablespoons of white vinegar into a cup of warm water with dissolved salt.
Need to check how your breath smells quickly? Try the sniff test—there are a couple of ways to do it. If you lick your wrist, let it dry for a moment, then take a whiff, you should be able to get an idea if your breath has an odor too. Another method is to floss toward the back of your mouth, then smell the floss.