The boom in dental care services has left many people “confused”, with a whole range of tartar removal techniques being heavily advertised along with very different advice. Some say you should have it done every day, some every week, others once a year. What is the right way to deal with tartar?
Tartar: a breeding ground for bacteria
About 15 minutes after eating, a thin film forms on the surface of your teeth. If this film is not cleaned off, bacteria gather and build up into an ever thicker layer called plaque. One study found that about 70% of the weight of plaque is bacteria: 1 mg of plaque (about the size of a toothpick tip) contains as many as a billion bacteria. While plaque is still soft, it can be removed from the tooth surface with a toothbrush or dental floss. But when it stays on the teeth for a long time, plaque calcifies with inorganic salts from saliva and soft debris (food particles, minerals in the mouth), dead epithelial cells, iron deposits from blood serum and so on. It becomes hard and sticks very firmly to the tooth surface or below the gum line. This is called tartar (calculus). At this point, only a dentist can remove it, using special instruments.
There are two types of tartar: ordinary tartar and subgingival (serumal) tartar. Ordinary tartar is the kind described above. When ordinary tartar causes gingivitis, the inflamed gums ooze fluid and bleed, and the blood soaks into the tartar and turns it reddish brown. That tartar is then called subgingival tartar.
Don't wait until you have tartar to get it removed
If tartar is not removed, toxins from the bacteria in it cause gingivitis, with bleeding gums and bad breath. It can also cause periodontitis, leading to bone loss, which makes the teeth painful and sensitive when you eat or drink, and in more serious cases loose, until they fall out. Tartar can also cause retrograde pulpitis. The bacteria in tartar are also one of the causes of diseases of the oral mucosa: inflammation of the lining of the mouth, mouth ulcers, tonsillitis, sore throat… Because of these effects, tartar needs to be removed completely. It is best to have your plaque checked every 3 to 6 months. Don't wait until tartar has formed to have it removed, because by the time tartar forms it has already caused damage and left its mark. There are several methods of tartar removal; the most common today are:
Air polishing (sandblasting): it cleans off tartar quite well and limits cross infection, but it can easily pit the tooth surface because of the sand particles sprayed out during cleaning. This makes the teeth stain more easily and lets plaque form faster.
Ultrasonic scaling: a method that removes tartar thoroughly and feels gentle. For patients with a lot of tartar, this method should be used instead of sandblasting (with which it is very hard to remove tartar below the gum line).
What can you do to prevent it?
Teeth cleaning can cause some bleeding, so there is a risk of infection. That is why safe tartar removal requires instruments and equipment to be strictly sterilized. Better still, keep your own teeth clean at all times, to limit damage as well as the treatments your teeth need.
To prevent tartar, brush properly after eating and use dental floss to remove food particles from between your teeth. Rinse with mouthwash or diluted salt water. Have your teeth checked every 3 to 6 months. Young children in particular need regular dental checkups and regular teeth cleaning as advised by the dentist.