What is Tartar?
Tartar, also known as dental calculus, is a hardened accumulation of dental plaque and mineral buildup. It can form on the tooth surfaces and both above and below the gumline. Plaque should be removed regularly for dental tartar not to accumulate, as this irritates the gum tissues and worsens gum disease. Tartar provides an ideal rough and sticky surface for more plaque to cling to and build up.
What Are The Symptoms of Tartar on Teeth?
While plaque is a sticky, colourless biofilm of bacteria on teeth, tartar is hardened plaque, a coating fairly noticeable above the gumline. Some signs that can be associated with tartar buildup include:
Slight bleeding while brushing: This is an early warning sign and can be caused by tartar irritating the gums.
Discoloration of the gums: Healthy gums are light pink, while tartar buildup can lead to the gums becoming darker red and irritated.
It's important to note that these symptoms can also be indicative of gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease. If you're experiencing any of these, it's best to consult a dentist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
What Causes Teeth Tartar?
Uncleaned dental plaque hardens to form tartar on teeth. Dental plaque is a colourless sticky film that develops due to a combination of mouth bacteria, food remnants, and proteins.
Here's how plaque leads to dental tartar formation:
Poor oral hygiene: Brushing and flossing twice daily is crucial for removing plaque, the sticky film harbouring bacteria. If plaque isn't removed effectively, it builds up as teeth tartar.
Mineralization: Minerals in saliva can harden the plaque deposits over time, transforming them into the hard, calcified substance known as tartar.
How Tartar Affects Oral Health
Timely removal of tartar can save you from various dental problems such as periodontal disease. Uncleaned plaque and tartar house bacteria, raising the risks of bad breath, cavities, and tooth decay. As plaque build-up continues, the tartar forming on teeth creates a porous area for more plaque to stick on, extending the cycle of plaque-to-tartar formation.
Treating the tartar and plaque build-up along the gumline can save you from gum problems such as gingivitis (swollen or bleeding gums) and gum recession. Early diagnosis and removal of tartar help prevent tooth discolouration caused by its absorption of stains from coffee, tea, and other pigmented drinks and foods.
How To Prevent Tartar Build-Up?
Like many dental issues, the solution usually lies in prevention! Rather than get to the stage of tartar build-up having to be professionally removed, you can take steps to prevent it from building up in the first place. While you can't safely remove tartar at home, with an excellent dental health routine, plaque removal can be done by following these steps:
Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Since your toothbrush can't reach all your tooth and gum surfaces, remember to floss (also known as interdental cleaning) once a day, too. If you have trouble using traditional floss, talk to your dental hygienist about alternative tools, like interdental brushes.
Rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash after brushing to remove any bacteria build-up that you miss.
Even if you have excellent brushing and flossing habits, you still need to regularly see your dental professional for check-ups. At these appointments, they will remove any plaque formation you missed with your at-home oral care routine.
Can You Remove Tartar At Home?
One may wonder how to remove tartar at home to save the time and effort of meeting a dentist. The Indian Dental Association (IDA) recommends consulting a dentist for dental tartar removal, as the plaque once hardened into tartar, cannot be removed by regular brushing.
One may be tempted by home remedies that claim to be effective in removing tartar from teeth. However, it is ideal not to opt for those as they lack scientific evidence and may turn out to be unsafe. Alternatively, consider using an efficacious antibacterial toothpaste to back you up at home for early prevention of plaque and tartar formation.
For instance, brushing your teeth twice daily with Colgate Total Advanced Health toothpaste can help keep your whole mouth healthy. Colgate Total Advanced Health is an antibacterial toothpaste that fights germs for 12 hours on teeth, tongue, cheeks, and gums. Unlike ordinary toothpaste, it has Dual Zinc and Arginine technology, actively seeking out bacteria and forming a protective, anti-germ barrier.
