What is Tartar

Tartar is a substance in which plaque (plaque) adhering to the surface of teeth is contained in saliva in the mouth and is combined with minerals such as calcium and phosphorus to become calcified and hardened like stone.

Plaque is similar to scale in drains and is a collection of bacteria that cause tooth decay and periodontal disease. It releases acid that dissolves teeth and toxins that cause periodontal disease, causing problems in the mouth.

The acid produced by the caries bacteria in the plaque dissolves the tooth surface and loses calcium and phosphorus every time you eat a meal or snack. Saliva has the role of remineralization to supplement this dissolved mineral content, and therefore contains a large amount of mineral content. Minerals for repairing teeth combine with plaque left behind by brushing, etc., and change into tartar.
After about two full days (48 hours) after it adheres, it completely calcifies and becomes tartar. Therefore, you must use a toothbrush and dental floss to remove the plaque within 48 hours before it becomes tartar. If tartar adheres to the surface of the tooth, it cannot be removed with a toothbrush. Toxins are not released from the tartar itself, but the rough surface makes it easier for plaque to adhere and becomes a nest of bacteria.

 

Types of tartar

There are two main types :

The supragingival calculus adheres to the surface of the tooth from the boundary between the tooth and the gum and can be visually confirmed, and the subgingival calculus adheres to the groove between the tooth and the gum (inside the periodontal pocket). Thing.
 
Since it is a slightly technical name, it is summarized below in an easy-to-understand manner.

Supragingival calculus

Tartar adheres to the tooth surface and is a yellowish-white gray color that is relatively soft and easy to remove.

Subgingival calculus

Tartar that adheres to the periodontal pocket and is gray to dark brown in color, hard and difficult to remove
 

Since the environment near the salivary gland, the organ that produces saliva, is the most prone to tartar formation, it tends to adhere to the back of the lower anterior teeth and the buccal side of the upper back teeth, which are near the exit. 

What if I don’t take an action to deal with this problem?

If tartar accumulates and is left untreated, the bacteria that adhere to the surface of the tartar will cause periodontal disease to develop or promote its progression. Periodontal disease is called silent disease, and since there are almost no symptoms, it is often the case that the disease has progressed more than expected when you notice it.

The cause of the periodontal disease itself is bacteria called periodontal pathogens, and tartar is a hotbed for these bacteria. In addition to the odor of tartar itself, toxins produced by bacteria attached to the surface can cause bad breath, so removing it and keeping it clean will prevent periodontal disease and bad breath.

 

How to remove ?

If tartar adheres, it cannot be removed with a toothbrush and must be removed at the dentist’s office. Kits for removing tartar by yourself are also on sale, but considering the possibility of damaging the gums, hygiene, and certainty of removal, it is not necessary to make a self-judgment, but the periodontal disease treatment should be done at the dental clinic.
 

When periodontal disease is mild to moderate, tartar is also attached to the groove formed between the teeth and gums called the periodontal pocket, so it is necessary to insert an instrument into the periodontal pocket, which causes pain. It might be necessary to anesthetize the gums. The instruments used are generally ultrasonic scalers and hand scalers, and the surface of the teeth and roots from which tartar has been removed is polished to a smooth surface.
 
 
If periodontal disease is moderate to severe, there are often deep periodontal pockets that the periodontal disease progresses and is out of reach of the device, so a small incision is made in the gums to remove tartar and inflamed tissue. , Periodontal surgery may be required. If periodontal disease progresses to this point, treatment will become difficult, so it is important to find and treat periodontal disease in the previous state as much as possible.