What Is Tartar?

Tartar refers to a hardened form of plaque (a sticky biofilm of bacteria) that forms on teeth enamel. Long-term plaque buildup on your teeth incorporates minerals from your saliva, which causes the plaque to harden and firmly adhere to the surfaces of your teeth. Tartar can cause several oral health problems, such as gum disease and tooth damage, despite having a terrible appearance.

The smile on someone’s face is usually the first thing you notice about them. Besides having aesthetic benefits, healthy teeth have significant medical advantages as well. Maintaining your oral health is crucial for overall health. To prevent oral cavity decay, you should begin with the removal of plaque that builds up on your teeth regularly.

The best way to remove dental plaque is to maintain a good oral hygiene routine at home, but to remove it visiting a dental professional is a must. Braces, dry mouth, crowded teeth, smoking, and advanced age are all common risk factors for tartar formation.

If You Have Tartar Buildup, How Can You Tell?

Tartar accumulation on tooth surfaces is reasonably easy to detect because it often appears as a yellow or brown stain. Your dentist will find and remove tartar during your routine dental examination and cleaning. Plaque-disclosing pills are available over-the-counter at many drug stores and can be used at home to determine whether or not you are correctly removing dental plaque. By using a colored tablet, areas with remaining plaque will be revealed and temporarily stained.

How Does Dental Tartar Develop?

When we eat or drink sugary foods and beverages, mouth bacteria feed on the sugars, allowing them to multiply and produce tooth plaque. In the absence of proper oral hygiene, saliva, food, and bacteria adhere to all surfaces of teeth, resulting in dental tartar formation.

Even with proper dental hygiene, bacteria remain in your mouth and mix with carbohydrates or sugary foods when you eat. Consequently, your teeth, gums, and dental restorations become covered in a sticky substance known as dental plaque. Acid-forming bacteria found in plaque can erode tooth enamel and result in cavities. If you don’t frequently remove plaque, it becomes tartar. It is crucial to treat tartar at the earliest to avoid gum recession and disease. Tartar is very abrasive and porous and requires specialized dental instruments for removal.

Even while plaque grows in everyone, your risk increases if you:

  • Consume high-sugar foods such as cakes, candy, and the like. 
  • Consume foods heavy in carbs, such as pasta, bread, and potato chips. 
  • Experience dry mouth due to consuming insufficient water or using particular medications.
  • You chew tobacco or smoke.

What Kind Of Impact Does It Have On Gums and Teeth?

Tartar can damage your teeth and gums by raising your risk of getting the following conditions:

  • Cavities. The generation of acids by oral bacteria feeding on the sweets we consume causes tooth decay and erosion of the enamel.
  • Gingivitis. Inflammation of the gums can be caused by plaque and tartar accumulation, causing gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Gingivitis symptoms include swollen, red, painful, and bleeding gums. Gingivitis, if left untreated, can progress to periodontal disease, a more severe form of gum disease.
  • Bad Breath. Tartar accumulation can lead to unpleasant odors in the mouth.

How Can It Be Avoided?

It is critical to practice regular oral hygiene to avoid plaque and tartar accumulation. To remove plaque between teeth, brush all surfaces of your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, and floss daily. Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings, which should be done every six months or more frequently,  depending on your particular oral issues and the advice of your dental professional.

For effective plaque removal, your dentist may recommend an electric toothbrush. Another excellent addition to your dental practice is fluoride and antibacterial mouthwashes. Furthermore, avoiding habits like smoking will significantly minimize your risk of plaque and tartar accumulation.

You may contact us online at aliki.dental@gmail.com. Give us a call at 905.845.3211 to learn more about our Dentistry on Dunn: Oakville Family Dentist and the treatments we provide.

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