How to Stop Tartar From Bothering Your Teeth
Posted on: 22 November 2022
Professional cleaning is a fairly standard part of a dental examination. This thorough, partially abrasive cleaning is intended to remove tartar from your teeth. Tartar is dental plaque that has hardened or calcified—and the plaque itself is a bacterial biofilm. But why does your dentist have to regularly scrape tartar away from your teeth, when, as far as you're concerned, you make a real effort to keep your teeth clean?
Plaque
First of all, no matter how well you brush your teeth, you can't remove any tartar that's had a chance to develop. It's beyond the capabilities of any toothbrush. As mentioned, plaque is a biofilm made of the oral bacteria that live in your mouth. These bacteria consume the same food you do—feeding on foods and drinks that pass through your mouth. This feeding then causes the bacteria to produce acid, which then adheres to the plaque (which has a sticky surface) and begins to corrode your teeth. This is why plaque must be regularly removed, and you can do this by brushing your teeth.
Tartar
When plaque isn't removed, it hardens and becomes tartar. This tartar is too strong to be removed with a toothbrush. It's still an active bacterial biofilm that's corroding the surfaces of your teeth. Tooth decay is beginning, and the influx of bacteria can also irritate your gums, leading to gingivitis and other periodontal infections. Tartar removal via professional dental cleaning can easily be performed during your regular dental examinations, but this brings you back to the earlier question—why is this happening when you make a real effort to keep your teeth clean?
Causes
There are multiple factors that can lead to tartar formation. The baseline level of oral bacteria in the human mouth varies slightly from person to person, so some people are more vulnerable to plaque, and therefore more likely to develop tartar. Diet can play a considerable role, with some foods and drinks being especially notorious for their contribution to plaque formation. There's also the possibility that your oral hygiene measures aren't as effective as you thought.
Cleaning
Are you using the best toothbrush for the job? If you're using a manual brush with soft bristles, your bruising efforts may lack the necessary force to dislodge plaque. A brush with medium bristles is going to be more effective, but a brush with hard bristles can be counterproductive. The bristles can be so hard as to corrode your dental enamel. But instead of upgrading a manual toothbrush, upgrade to an electric toothbrush. Cleaning then relies on the rotation of the brush head instead of the motion of your hand and is far more effective in breaking up plaque deposits.
Stopping tartar from forming on your teeth can be as easy as starting some new habits in your diet and the way you clean your teeth.
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