November 21, 2022

REMOVE THAT TARTAR : DR. DINI

Do you have this kind of teeth? Or, have you seen this kind of condition on someone else’s mouth? As much as it grosses you to see this, but for us ,dentists, it is a different story. Yes, It is gross but removing hardened plaque/ calculus like this gives us so much joy just like pimple popping videos. 🙂

Let me refresh to you what is plaque again. Plaque is a sticky, clear film of bacteria that forms on teeth. It is composed of bacterial culture, food particles, and sugars. The most common cause of oral health issues is plaque. Left unchecked, plaque causes dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontal disease.

In the absence of proper dental care, plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Tartar builds up along your gumline on the fronts and backs of your teeth. Although an attentive flossing may dislodge some tartar buildup, you’ll probably need to visit a dentist to rid yourself of all of it. Tarter destroys the teeth and gums far more efficiently than typical plaque. First, cavities form. Next, the dentine and pulp get infected as bacteria advances deeper into the tooth . It can cause recession of the gum, teeth sensitivity and mobility. Not too mention, halitosis( bad breath) as well.

Plaque that has hardened into tartar will have to be removed by us, dentist. We can remove it when you have a regular dental checkup and cleaning. Because tartar can build up in hard-to-reach places, it’s really important to visit a dentist twice a year to keep it under control.