What is Tarter?

Tartar — also known as calculus — is an accumulation of plaque and minerals from your saliva that harden. Tartar can coat the exterior of teeth and invade below the gumline. Tartar feels like a crusty blanket on teeth. Because it’s porous, food and drink can easily stain tartar.

Tartar deposits, which often settle behind and in between teeth, appear yellow or brown. Tartar, and its precursor, plaque, can both wreak havoc on your dental health.

Tartar and plaque can:

• cause bad breath, from bacteria buildup
• destroy enamel, the hard outer layer of teeth, which can in turn, lead to tooth sensitivity, cavities, and even tooth loss
• promote gum disease

Stop tartar by stopping plaque

Plaque can harden into tartar in a matter of hours, which is why it’s so important to brush and floss daily. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the following:

• Brush twice a day, two minutes at a time.
• Use a toothbrush you’re comfortable with. Choosing to use a manual or a powered toothbrush is a matter of personal preference — both will effectively remove plaque if used correctly and consistently. But at least one 2017 study showed greater removal of plaque with a powered toothbrush.
• Use a soft-bristled brush.
• Brush at an angle and include your gums. Angle the brush at 45 degrees so you can get bristles up into the corners between teeth and gums, where plaque can hide. Use your toothbrush on the areas where your teeth and gumline meet, too.
• Use gentle, short strokes.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss once a day.

Once it adheres to teeth, tartar — a concrete-like substance — cannot be removed by brushing. It needs to be professionally scraped off by a dental professional.

6 ways to prevent tarter

Removing tartar takes a professional, but there are things you can do — in addition to regular brushing and flossing — that reduce the amount of plaque in your mouth and control tartar buildup. They include:

A specially formulated toothpaste

• Tartar-control toothpaste. One 2008 study comparing the effectiveness of a tartar-control toothpaste to a cavity-protection one found that those using the tartar-control toothpaste had nearly 35 percent less calculus at the study’s end than those using regular fluoride toothpaste.
• Toothpaste with baking soda. Because baking soda is slightly abrasive, studies show that toothpastes with this ingredient can better remove plaque than toothpastes without it.
• Skip the charcoal-based toothpastes. Charcoal-based toothpastes have not been proven to be effective at controlling tartar, says research from the Journal of the American Dental Association, nor have they been proven to be safe.

Whitening strips

One 2009 study found that those who used hydrogen peroxide whitening strips with pyrophosphate daily for three months had 29 percent less tartar than those who simply brushed their teeth.

Tea

A 2016 study found that drinking green tea may reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. If you don’t want to drink tea, try a mouthwash that has tea in it.

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables

Because they promote vigorous chewing, and thus saliva production, these foods can help wash away some of the bacteria in your mouth that produce plaque. Same goes for sugar-free chewing gum.

Water flosser

This hand-held device pulses water into the spaces between teeth to remove bacteria and debris. When used regularly and properly, it can be more effective than string floss in reducing plaque.

One study found that those who used a water flosser plus manual toothbrush had a 74 percent reduction in whole-mouth plaque compared to 58 percent for those who used a manual toothbrush and string floss.

Mouthwash

According to the ADA, mouthwashes that contain bacteria-fighting ingredients like cetylpyridinium, chlorhexidine, and certain essential oils can fight plaque and tartar.

It’s important to note that these rinses should be used in conjunction with brushing and flossing.

Look for a plaque- or tartar-control rinse with the ADA Seal of Approval, and follow the manufacturer’s directions (e.g., some specify using the rinse before brushing, others after).

Let the pros take tartar off your teeth

Periodic professional cleanings remove tartar buildup. Both traditional and holistic dentists (dentists who keep in mind the overall health of the patient, not just his or her oral health) can perform a dental cleaning.

Using a hand-held metal scaler (a device with a hook-like end), your dentist or dental hygienist will scrape away tartar. If you have an excessive amount of tartar that has caused gum disease, your dentist may recommend a deep cleaning that involves scaling and root planing.

• Plaque and tartar are removed both above and below the gumline (in the pockets where the gum has come away from the tooth).
• Roots of teeth are smoothed to help encourage reattachment of the gum to the tooth.
• In some cases a laser may be used to kill bacteria deep within a gum pocket.

Schedule your teeth cleaning today!

Are you interested in getting a professional dental cleaning to protect the overall health of your teeth? Contact Our Beaufort dentist office by calling 843-986-0177  or filling our an online request to schedule an appointment.