1. The Beginnings of a Dental Nightmare
Tartar begins as plaque, a soft white substance made up of both living and dead bacteria that is formed when food particles mix with saliva and adhere to the teeth. If you use your fingernails to gently scrape the surface of your teeth and a sticky, white matter comes off under your fingernail, that is plaque. Plaque begins to harden almost immediately, hardening about 50 percent in just 48 hours and becoming rock hard in 12 days. When plaque becomes rock hard, it is then referred to as tartar or dental calculus.
2. Tartar is Terrible for Your Teeth
Once plaque hardens and becomes tarter, it begins to grow very quickly. The shape of tartar is not unlike coral reef, creating lots of little spaces and pits for bacteria to live and reproduce. Because tartar attracts so much bacteria, it can make problems with plaque even harder to control. When tartar is left on teeth for a long period of time, it can begin to affect the gums as well. The tartar pushes against the gums, causing them to swell, bleed and even pull away from your teeth creating pockets between your teeth and gums. These pockets are just more perfect safety zones for bacteria and can lead to gum disease and tooth loss.
3. Blame Your Parents for Tartar Troubles
It seems that many genetic factors lead to excess formation of tartar, as some people find tartar next to impossible to control, while other may never have tartar troubles at all. The rate in which tartar forms is directly related to hygiene; however, biological factors play a part as well, such as an elevated pH of saliva, large amounts of calcium in saliva, heightened concentrations of bacterial lipids and proteins as well as excessive amounts of protein and urea in the salivary glands.
4. Ta-Ta, Tartar!
Tartar can cause irreversible damage to your teeth, and while self-care tips can help keep tartar to a minimum, it is impossible to remove any built-up tartar without professional assistance. It is extremely important that you see a dentist for a professional cleaning every six months. You can also protect your teeth from tooth decay due to tartar by getting dental sealants. In severe cases of tartar, removal requires root planing, which using a drill-like tool, or even dental surgery.
5. Taking Time for Your Teeth
Dental care is not just about brushing and flossing but also about what you eat. Try to limit sugars, which harbor bacteria growth and plaque formation. Brush your teeth after each meal with a soft-bristled tooth brush and fluoride toothpaste. Flossing twice daily helps to remove plaque from between your teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach and is the best thing you can do to prevent gum disease.
