Tartar, the unsightly yellowish layer that forms on the teeth, is annoying and promotes the formation of cavities. How to eliminate it?
Tartar, also known as dental calculus or plaque, is the calcification or thickening of bacterial plaque on the teeth. Its appearance is very unsightly, as it is a whitish-yellow or faintly brown layer that settles on the enamel of the teeth, right where they join the gums. How to get rid of tartar from teeth?
In addition to being rather unsightly and annoying, tartar can also cause various dental problems . One of the best known and also the most feared is periodontitis (or periodontal disease), responsible for bleeding, halitosis, cavities and even tooth loss.
Tips for removing tartar from teeth
The presence of tartar on the teeth can be due to several factors. Most of the time it is due to poor oral hygiene, but it can also be caused by the consumption of certain foods and drugs, as well as by the presence of diseases such as diabetes . Find out how to get rid of it.
Brush your teeth
Eliminating bacterial plaque every day prevents it from settling. When plaque calcifies, it turns into tartar and becomes much more difficult to get rid of. To prevent this, the ideal is to maintain healthy oral hygiene habits, starting with proper cleaning of the teeth.
Brushing our teeth is essential to ensure the health of our oral cavity and, specifically, to fight tartar. Cleaning your teeth after each meal is essential and must be thorough and constant.
Besides that, it is important to use a suitable toothbrush and toothpaste. Specialists recommend a toothbrush with soft bristles , because hard bristles can ruin tooth enamel. As for the toothpaste, it must contain fluoride, which strengthens the teeth and prevents tooth decay.
Floss
Dental floss is an important tool for proper oral hygiene. Many people don’t know this, or just don’t use it, but flossing helps eliminate bacteria and food debris between the teeth. This prevents the formation of plaque and thus tartar on the teeth.
For dental floss to be effective, it should be used at least once a day, preferably before going to bed, after brushing your teeth. It should be passed gently between the teeth so as not to irritate the gums .
Finally, it is important to make sure that the portion of floss we will use is clean, otherwise we will move the bacteria from one place to another in the mouth.
Cleaning sessions at the dentist
In addition to these basic precautions to be carried out at home, it is essential to undergo professional cleaning once or twice a year. Even if we are disciplined and take care of the oral cavity, dental cleaning performed by a specialist is necessary to eliminate the most stubborn and difficult to reach dental plaque .
On the other hand, if our hygiene has been lacking and tartar has already formed on the teeth, only a deep cleaning, carried out by the dentist in his office will be effective to eliminate it. If it is a lot or encrusted, it will probably take several sessions at the dentist to be able to remove the tartar from the teeth.
The specialist might use a technique known as gingival curettage . For this purpose, he will perform a crown or root scraping. The purpose of this technique is to eliminate the visible tartar on the teeth and what is deposited under the gums.
Do-it-yourself alternatives to remove tartar from teeth
There are some home remedies to get rid of tartar from your teeth. They can be added to professional treatment and in no case should they be intended as a substitute for the treatments described.
Among the best known natural remedies we remember baking soda, sesame seeds and orange or lemon zest.
