Tartar: causes, symptoms and methods of removal in dentistry

Tartar is a problem that you may not even be aware of until problems with the health of teeth and gums begin. To detect dental deposits before complications arise, to quickly and effectively remove tartar, you will need the help of your dentist.

What is tartar? Symptoms and types of dental plaque

Every child knows that you need to brush your teeth in the mornings and evenings. With the help of a toothbrush, a paste, we put things in order in the oral cavity, and the components contained in the toothpaste provide our teeth with protection from bacteria for a while. However, after 2 hours, as well as after the next snack, the effect of the active components weakens, and a soft plaque appears on the teeth from food debris, saliva, and bacteria. Such plaque is not difficult to remove, but if this is not done on time and correctly, calcium salts accumulate in it, the waste products of bacteria and deposits on the enamel of the teeth become hard.

That is, tartar is a mineralized soft plaque. In this situation, it is almost impossible to cope with deposits with a brush and paste; in order to remove tartar, you need to contact dentistry, where you will be offered the most effective cleaning method.

Dental calculus: types and features of deposits

Mineral deposits on tooth enamel are classified according to how tartar looks and where it is located.

In accordance with the localization of deposits, there are:

• supragingival deposits;
• subgingival.

The location of the plaque is indicated by its name. Supragingival calculus is easily diagnosed visually without additional examination. What does he look like? – The white or yellow tartar that frames the base of the tooth along the edge of the gum is hard or thick, like a clay, consistency. This is a common pathology that affects both adults and children. According to statistics, dental deposits above the gums are present in half of pediatric dentistry patients aged 9 to 15 years, in almost 70% of people under 40 years old and in the vast majority of patients over 40.

Subgingival calculus is characterized by a dense structure, color of deposits (dark brown or almost black shade), and the complexity of diagnosis. Deposits are localized under the gum in periodontal pockets, and the dentist uses a special probe to identify them. The stone is hard, very close to the tooth surface.

Particularly favorable areas for calculus formation are the areas least accessible for good hygiene:

• between the teeth, near the gingival papillae;
• at the base of the teeth from the inside and outside;
• in periodontal pockets;
• at the site of implantation – where the prostheses are attached to the implants;
• in the area of braces attachment;
• on the teeth of wisdom.

How to recognize tartar? Symptoms

• 1
  an unpleasant odor is the result of the vital activity of bacteria;
• 2
  swelling and redness of the gums, enlargement of the gingival papillae between the teeth;
• 3
  bleeding while brushing your teeth and using dental floss;
• 4
  sensitivity of some teeth caused by the destruction of the gum tissue;
• 5
  exposing the neck of the tooth;
• 6
  change in the shade of the enamel – the appearance of unaesthetic yellowish or brown spots.

Tartar: сauses of tartar formation

Hard, mineralized deposits on teeth do not form suddenly. First, plaque appears on the surface of the teeth, and only if you do not take measures to combat plaque, it hardens over time and you have to resort to the dental procedure “cleaning tartar”. That is, one of the main reasons for the formation of tartar is non-compliance or poor, irregular adherence to oral hygiene.

There are a number of other reasons why tartar occurs:

• the wrong choice of toothbrush, toothpaste;
• insufficient amount of solid food in the diet, which helps to clean the surface of the teeth from plaque;
• incorrect distribution of the load on the teeth when chewing (associated with a violation of the bite or the habit of chewing on one side);
• metabolic problems that affect the composition of saliva;
• improper eating habits – abuse of sweets, sugary carbonated drinks, high carbohydrate content in the diet;
• some diseases of internal organs;
• smoking.

What problems provokes tartar: consequences

Tartar is a much more serious problem than an ugly yellowish plaque on the enamel of teeth. As it grows, the soft plaque hardens.

Over time, the patient develops secondary symptoms:

• bad breath;
• itchy gums;
• bleeding gums.

Failure to clean tartar at this stage will lead to even more serious consequences:

• detachment of the gums from the root surface of the tooth (a periodontal pocket is formed);
• the development of caries, gingivitis, periodontitis;
• mobility and loss (removal) of teeth;
• diseases of the digestive system (tartar is a permanent source of infection in the oral cavity, which can easily penetrate with saliva into the stomach and provoke the development of various diseases);
• diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Plaque and tartar: how to get rid of the problem?

Removing dental calculus is not even a preventive, but a medical procedure, the purpose of which is to fight bacteria that contribute to the development of diseases. The fight against deposits on the enamel of teeth should be comprehensive and include effective methods of self and professional hygiene.

How to remove tartar yourself?

On the Internet, for queries “how to remove tartar” or “how to remove tartar at home”, you can find a lot of recipes for folk remedies – from treatment with soda and citric acid, to the use of herbal decoctions. In fact, the removal of tartar using the proposed methods is either ineffective or has unpleasant consequences for the health of teeth (damage, weakening of enamel, etc.).

Can tartar be removed at home? No, if hard deposits have formed on the teeth, then the problem can be solved only by professional methods in dentistry. But at home, you can provide your teeth with thorough, regular care to combat soft plaque, which will help prevent tartar formation.

Special oral care products will help you with this:

• high quality toothpaste;
• good toothbrush.

As well as additional tools and tools:

• dental brushes, dental floss, which solve the problem of how to clean tartar between teeth;
• rinse aid;
• an orthodontic toothbrush if you are wearing braces;
• tongue hygiene scraper.

How to remove tartar? Choosing a good brush

A simple manual brush will not effectively remove tartar, but if you choose a product with medium to hard bristles, it will cope well with soft plaque.

How to remove tartar with a brush? Dentists recommend using to remove plaque from the surface of the teeth:

• 1
  electric toothbrush – great for daily hygiene and tooth enamel polishing;
• 2
  sonic brush – copes well with plaque, removes food debris in the most inaccessible places, is suitable for use with restorations, braces;
• 3
  ultrasonic – is able to remove deposits above the gum, but it is used only in the absence of dental restorations, veneers in the oral cavity.

Which toothpaste removes tartar?

Another way to remove tartar is to brush with a special toothpaste. Some varieties contain components that do an excellent job of soft and partially mineralized plaque, returning teeth to their natural shade.

These active substances include:

• 1
  enzymes that help dissolve dental plaque;
• 2
  abrasives that help in removing deposits and polish the rough enamel surface.

An example of an effective anti-plaque agent is the Beyond Pearl White – Green Tea whitening paste, which not only delicately cares for the teeth, but also nourishes them with fluoride and helps to strengthen the enamel.

However, even the most expensive and high-quality hygiene products will not help you cope with large-scale pigmentation, large and hard deposits. Tartar can only be removed in dentistry. How to clean tartar in this situation, the dentist hygienist will tell you.

How is dental calculus removed in dentistry? Modern effective techniques

The only correct way to remove tartar is by professional methods in dentistry.

The most effective methods used by modern dental clinics:

• ultrasonic cleaning;
• cleaning with the Air Flow apparatus;
• laser cleaning.

How to remove tartar with ultrasound: price, features and advantages of the method

Removal of stones from the surface of teeth by ultrasound (scaling) occurs under the influence of ultrasonic vibrations. The procedure is carried out in two stages: removal of deposits and removal of roughness of the enamel on the cleaned areas in order to prevent plaque adhesion.

In general, the procedure is painless, but the patient may experience discomfort or painful sensations while cleaning the stones in the root necks of the teeth. Why do patients choose this method to remove tartar: the price is affordable, the effect is long-lasting due to high-quality cleaning and smoothing of the enamel surface.

How to clean tartar: the benefits of the Air Flow method

To remove soft dental deposits in modern dentistry, the Air Flow device is used.

• cleaning polishing powder;
• air;
• water.

How is tartar removed with this method? Dental plaque is removed under the pressure of an air-water mixture enriched with an abrasive agent based on calcium or glycine. Air Flow is used in professional dental hygiene for children, pregnant women, it is ideal for cleaning teeth if the patient has braces and orthopedic structures in the oral cavity. It is effective when you need to remove calculus between the front teeth and in the far corners of the lateral group of teeth.

The only drawback to removing tartar with this method is the price, which is higher compared to ultrasonic cleaning.

Subgingival calculus: how to remove it with a laser?

Laser technologies are used not only in dental surgery, but also in professional oral hygiene. The laser allows you to gently, painlessly brush your teeth in the most inaccessible areas – in periodontal pockets. The use of a laser is an atraumatic and bloodless method of deep cleaning of subgingival calculus.

How is tartar removed in children?

In pediatric dentistry, the most delicate methods of removing plaque are used:

• cleaning with professional toothpastes and gels;
• hardware cleaning Air Flow.

How much does it cost to remove tartar: price in Dnipro

Tartar removal – the price of such a service depends on:

• 1
  the chosen method of professional hygiene;
• 2
  the condition of the patient’s teeth and gums;
• 3
  the type and amount of dental plaque.

Dental clinics often make discounts for regular customers and patients who undergo complex treatment in dentistry (dental treatment, dental prosthetics).

The best way to remove tartar is prevention

Many people are in no hurry to go to the dentist even when the first alarm bells appear – bleeding, caries at the initial or middle stage, but make an appointment with the doctor if the tartar has broken off and the roots of the teeth are exposed when the teeth begin to hurt.

But many diseases of the teeth and gums can be avoided if you pay enough attention to prevention.

The most effective means of preventing tartar formation are:

• 1
  thorough, correct and regular brushing of teeth in the morning and in the evening;
• 2
  the use of oral hygiene aids: dental floss, brushes, rinses;
• 3
  the use of modern technologies in home care (for example, oral irrigators);
• 4
  monitor nutrition – fewer sweets, flour products, inclusion of solid foods (carrots, apples) in the diet;
• 5
  regular visits to dentistry for consultation and for preventive examinations;
• 6
  professional hygiene in accordance with the recommendations of the dentist – 2-4 times a year.

Amel Dental Clinic is the center of modern dentistry in Dnipro, where special attention is paid to the prevention of oral diseases. We care about the health of our patients and offer the safest, most effective methods for the prevention and treatment of dental and gum disease. Take care of yourself, monitor the health of the oral cavity, and our specialists, experienced qualified doctors will help you with this.