Dental tartar
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June 21, 2024What it is, causes, prevention methods and types of treatment
Often, the first thing you notice about someone you meet for the first time is their smile. Due to poor oral hygiene, a smile can lose its sparkle. Tartar is one of the oral problems that arise when brushing is not done properly, when eating habits are not the best, or when visits to the dentist are not regular.
What is dental tartar?
Tartar refers to the hard, calcified deposits that form on the surface of the teeth and gums. It forms when bacteria naturally present in the mouth mix with food debris to form a sticky film known as dental plaque.
Approximately 25,000 bacteria are involved in the formation of dental plaque. In the first few hours after it forms, dental plaque can be removed mechanically, but it subsequently hardens, making the process more difficult.
If bacterial plaque is not removed through proper oral hygiene – namely daily brushing and flossing – it hardens and discolours, resulting in the formation of tartar. As a rule, dental plaque turns into tartar after about 10 days. In short, tartar is the mineralisation of bacterial plaque.
Tartar is both a cosmetic and a medical problem. Yellow or brown in colour, dental tartar makes it difficult to clean your teeth at home. Because the surface of tartar is rough, removing bacterial plaque is harder to achieve with a toothbrush and dental floss. For this reason, oral problems such as bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease can arise.
Tartar usually forms on the outer surface of the upper molars, on the inner surface of the lower teeth, and in the spaces between the teeth.
Types of dental tartar
Depending on its position relative to the gum, there are two types of tartar: supragingival and subgingival.
Supragingival tartar
In its early stages, supragingival tartar is yellowish-white in colour and has a soft, crumbly consistency. Over time, the consistency and adhesion of supragingival tartar increase, and the colour may turn brown or black as a result of impregnation with food pigments. This occurs particularly in people who smoke, drink alcohol, or consume tea or coffee. The mineralisation of supragingival tartar is caused by saliva.
Subgingival tartar
Subgingival tartar is dark in colour, ranging from brown to black, and has a firmer consistency. It is very adhesive and harder to remove compared to supragingival tartar. Subgingival tartar affects not only the gums, but also the dentine, connective tissues and bones. The mineralisation of subgingival tartar is caused by the presence of blood.
The causes of dental tartar
Tartar build-up can occur at any age, caused by both genetic factors and poor oral hygiene habits, as well as the consumption of certain foods and drinks.
Firstly, a person’s dental structure can be one of the risk factors for tartar build-up. Crowded teeth make brushing more difficult, resulting in a high risk of tartar formation.
Low saliva levels in the mouth are also a risk factor for tartar formation. Food, as well as certain habits (such as smoking), can cause tartar to form.
When saliva, food and fluids combine in the mouth, they create an environment that allows bacteria to grow and build up on the teeth and gums, particularly in the spaces between them.
Foods that contribute to the formation of dental plaque include those rich in carbohydrates or simple sugars, such as sucrose and starch, which are found in soft drinks and sweets.
Eating foods high in sugar (cakes, sweets, fruit) can cause bacteria to multiply in the mouth, especially if combined with poor oral hygiene.
Unlike dental plaque, which is a colourless film made up of bacteria, tartar is a build-up of minerals that is easy to spot if it lies above the gum line. The most common sign of tartar is yellow or brown discolouration of the teeth or gums. The only sure way to identify tartar – and to remove it – is through a check-up at the dentist.
Oral problems caused by dental tartar
Dental plaque can cause numerous health problems, and tartar exacerbates them. Patients with tartar build-up are more likely to develop gum disease, lose their teeth or suffer from oral complications as they get older.
Some of the oral problems that can arise if tartar is not removed in time include:
- Tooth decay. The acids produced by bacteria in dental plaque can cause a low pH level and destroy tooth enamel.
- Gingivitis. The build-up of bacteria in dental plaque can cause inflammation of the gums.
- Bad breath (halitosis). The formation of bacterial plaque, due to poor oral hygiene, can also cause bad breath.
- Periodontitis. If not removed, tartar can affect the tissues supporting the teeth. Periodontitis manifests as damage to the periodontium (the structure of bone and tissues that support and anchor the teeth).
- Tooth loss. In extreme cases, untreated tartar can lead to tooth loss.
Ways to prevent dental tartar
When it comes to tartar, prevention is the best treatment. Paying close attention to your oral health is the most important way to prevent tartar build-up. To this end, there are a few steps you can take to ensure proper oral hygiene.
- Brush regularly, twice a day (morning and evening), for at least two minutes, using a fluoride toothpaste. It is important to remove plaque whilst brushing, which is why it is vital to choose a toothbrush that is suitable for the user’s age. For children, the brush head should be between 15 and 22 mm; for adults, the recommendation is 25 mm. At the same time, specialists recommend using an anti-tartar toothpaste.
- Using dental floss. No matter how much attention you pay to brushing and whatever technique you use, dental floss is the only way to remove plaque from between the teeth and prevent tartar from forming in hard-to-reach areas. At the same time, mouthwash helps to kill the bacteria that cause plaque. For this reason, rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash is recommended.
- A healthy diet. Bacteria in the mouth ‘feed’ on foods rich in sugar and starch. It is therefore advisable to pay close attention to your diet and, as far as possible, avoid sugary snacks and fizzy drinks.
- Giving up bad habits. Smoking is one of the factors that leads to the formation of tartar.
Once tartar has formed, it can only be removed by a professional. Therefore, do not miss your regular dental check-ups, once every six months, to remove bacterial plaque and tartar, so as to prevent any oral problems that may arise.
Treatment for dental tartar
Once formed, tartar can only be removed from the surface of the teeth using specialised techniques. Otherwise, tartar can contribute to the development of periodontal disease. The technique used to remove tartar is called scaling, a procedure that should be carried out twice a year at a dentist’s surgery.
As a rule, scaling is a painless procedure, but patients with sensitive gums may experience some discomfort.
Ultrasonic scaling (air-flow) is the technique used in most dental practices. The electric device used to remove tartar has a fine tip, vibrates at high speeds and emits a jet of water. As a result, the electric device and the water jet clean both the tartar and any food debris remaining between the teeth.
The next step in the process of cleaning the oral cavity and removing tartar is brushing at the dentist’s surgery. For this procedure, a rotary brush and fluoride toothpaste are used, and each tooth surface is cleaned individually.
Types of scaling
- EXCLUSIVE EMS Airflow® Profylaxis Master – comprehensive prophylaxis session; supragingival and subgingival periodontal scaling, scaling with Piezon by EMS Airflow® Profylaxis Master; Swiss technology: GUIDED BACTERIAL PLAQUE TREATMENT (GBT) and oral hygiene instruction.
- BRIGHT & WHITE – a complete prophylaxis session comprising: ultrasonic scaling, professional brushing, air-flow, immediate fluoridation, oral hygiene instruction.
- Perio-LASER Cleaning - subgingival scaling, bacterial decontamination with Biolase LASER, performed by a periodontist - both arches.
Therefore, tartar is not only an aesthetic problem but also a medical one. To have a healthy and beautiful smile, it is important to brush correctly, pay close attention to your eating habits, and visit the dentist regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a scaling treatment take?
Approximately 30–60 minutes, depending on the amount of tartar build-up.
Does a scaling hurt?
No, but it may cause slight discomfort, especially if you have sensitive gums.
Why do children get tartar?
Due to poor oral hygiene and a diet high in sugar.
Resources
- WebMD – Tartar (dental calculus): overview
- Cleveland Clinic – Plaque
- NHS – Look after your teeth and gums
- News-Medical – What is tartar?