We all know plaque is bad for our teeth, but did you know tartar is just as bad? No, we’re not talking about the sauce you dip your fish in. This tartar grows on your teeth and can lead to tooth decay.
What exactly is tartar, and how do you get rid of it? Beavers & Broomfield Family Dentistry are experts at removing plaque and tartar from teeth, but it’s best if it never builds up. Let’s explore what tartar is and how you can prevent it from damaging your teeth.
What Is Tartar Made Of?
Tartar is plaque that has hardened — or calcified — along the gum line. Tartar tends to form in the harder-to-reach areas of your mouth, such as behind your front teeth or along the edges of your molars.
What does tartar look like on teeth? It’s usually a gray, yellow, or white color. It often looks like it’s coating the edges of your tooth, particularly along the gum line.
Tartar doesn’t form overnight. It takes time to build up and harden. It begins as plaque that builds in layers on your teeth. As those layers pile up, they calcify by pulling minerals from your saliva. That makes the plaque harden into tartar.
It’s vital to remove tartar from your teeth because tartar traps bacteria against your teeth and gums. Left untreated, this can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
What Causes Tartar on Teeth?
Tartar is caused by a buildup of plaque on your teeth. This is usually caused by a lack of good oral hygiene. Even if you brush your teeth regularly, you still may not be reaching all areas of your mouth properly.
It’s recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day for a minimum of two minutes, making sure to brush every surface of each tooth. You also need to brush along the gum line to ensure your gums stay healthy, too.
Tartar can also form between your teeth. That’s why it’s important to floss at least once a day before you brush. That way, any plaque or particles you remove from between your teeth by flossing can be removed when you brush.
Can a Waterpik remove tartar, or can another water flosser? Usually, the answer is no. That’s because the stream of water isn’t strong enough to push out the tartar. A water flosser is a good enhancement or backup to dental floss, but you should use dental floss at least once a day. Dental floss has better scrubbing power than water flossers.
How Do You Remove Tartar From Teeth?
Tartar isn’t easy to remove. It can flake and come off on its own, but it’s rare. Most of the time, you need to have a professional dentist remove the tartar.
The doctors at Beavers & Broomfield Family Dentistry use special tools to remove tartar from your teeth. It’s a delicate task because it is caked against your enamel and just above the soft tissue of your gums. We know how to remove the tartar without damaging your tooth’s enamel or hurting your gums.
Tartar can also form below the gum line. That also takes a delicate hand to remove. This is why you need to visit a dentist for a thorough teeth cleaning if you have tartar on your teeth.
How Do I Prevent Tartar On My Teeth?
How do you prevent dental tartar? The best way to prevent tartar is to brush and floss your teeth regularly. We know reaching certain areas of your mouth isn’t always easy. There are things you can do to help that.
If you use a manual toothbrush, try using an electric toothbrush instead. An electric toothbrush has rotating bristles with better scrubbing power. Those bristles often can reach around the tooth in places a manual toothbrush can’t.
It’s also important to change your toothbrush every three months. Over time, the bristles of your toothbrush can become too soft and lose their scrubbing power. Changing your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head maintains scrubbing power and can help prevent plaque and tartar buildup.
Finally, consider orthodontic treatment if your teeth are very crooked. Crooked teeth are harder to clean. Straightening your teeth can make it easier to brush and floss them. That means you will have less tartar buildup.
Tartar Removal in Fayetteville, AR
Beavers & Broomfield Family Dentistry can remove tartar from your teeth in Fayetteville, AR, and suggest the best ways to prevent further tartar buildup. Schedule an appointment for teeth cleaning in Northwest Arkansas with dental professionals. We can clean the tartar from your teeth and reduce your chances of tooth decay and gum disease.
