When it comes to oral health, "tartar” is a word that comes up often. What is tartar and what threat does it pose to the health of our smile? Your dentists at Dents Mon Quartier, in Lasalle, have prepared the following article to inform you about tartar and the consequences of its accumulation on the teeth.
How is tartar formed?
To understand the formation of tartar, it is necessary to know that it is directly related to the accumulation of dental plaque. Dental plaque is a whitish deposit, which is composed of a mixture of saliva, food residues and bacteria. With a good daily oral hygiene routine, including brushing after meals and flossing, plaque can be removed.
Nevertheless, it happens that dental plaque accumulates in certain places, especially at the base of the teeth near the gums, especially because it is not well eliminated on a daily basis. In contact with the minerals contained in the saliva, the dental plaque will then calcify. It then turns into a yellowish, porous and very hard deposit: tartar.
The consequences associated with tartar accumulations
Tartar is a bacterial deposit, in which bacteria in the mouth proliferate. These can then attack the surfaces with which they are in contact, including teeth and gums. In addition, due to its yellowish color and rough appearance, tartar accumulations can impair the appearance of the smile.
It is therefore important to consider the consequences associated with tartar to understand the importance of preventing its accumulation. The main consequences are:
- An increased risk of dental caries formation;
- Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) caused by tartar accumulations below the gum line;
- In the longer term, inflammation of the gums can spread to other tissues that hold the teeth in place, causing periodontitis.
The importance of professional cleaning
Since tartar is very hard, it cannot be eliminated during the hygiene routine at home. Indeed, it is the hygienist who removes the accumulations during the professional cleaning carried out during routine visits. The curette is then used to remove the tartar.
Even when a person has an excellent oral hygiene routine, it is practically impossible to prevent tartar from forming on the teeth. It is therefore essential to make routine visits to the dental clinic, every 6 to 12 months depending on the habits of each person. Indeed, a high consumption of sweet and / or acidic foods and beverages, smoking and alcohol consumption are habits that can exacerbate the accumulation of tartar. Therefore, the importance of professional cleaning should not be overlooked to remove accumulations, even if they are minimal.
We recommend that you contact our team for a routine visit, including a professional cleaning, if your last clinic appointment was a long time ago. Prevention is the key to a healthy smile.
Approved by Dre Charouk
Dr. Joumana Charouk, D.M.D, is proud to offer her patients exceptional care that combines experience, efficiency and good humor.
Dre Joumana Charouk, D.M.D