Have your yellow teeth ever prevented you from smiling? Or has a discolored smile ever interfered with your ability to exude confidence in a social setting?
If yes, then you may need to know how to avoid a stained smile.
But what causes a stained smile?
The answer is tartar. Tartar refers to the hardened layers of calculus deposits that are coated on the enamel of your teeth. These calcified deposits extend to your teeth and gum line, increasing your risk of gum disease. In an advanced state, when the bacteria present in your mouth interact with the food particles lodged between your teeth, the chain reaction of the same produces a sticky film known as plaque.
If left untreated, this plaque hardens over time, forming tartar and discoloring teeth.
Tartar commonly develops in your teeth as a yellow-brown tint. Because of poor oral health, tartar gradually forms and shapes into plaque, which is generally colorless and stays unclean even after you wash and floss your teeth. Plaque can form within two weeks or less after your teeth have been invaded with tartar.
How does Tartar affect teeth and gums?
Tartar not only harms your dental health, but it also weakens your teeth and gums. Let’s take a look at some of the negative health impacts induced by tartar:
- Tooth Decay: Considering plaque is the most common cause of tooth decay, and also the resultant outcome of hardened tartar, it can expose you to the risk of tooth decay. But how does this happen?
When tartar grows in your mouth, it causes the formation of a sticky film known as plaque. Hence, when the bacteria enter your mouth, they can readily attach to your teeth, and thrive on the plaque. The resultant growth of this bacteria is what promotes decay and damage to your teeth. In addition to this, tartar can make it considerably difficult for you to maintain proper oral hygiene, thus causing further decay to your teeth, which eventually leads to cavities.
- Teeth that are discolored or stained: If you do not carry out the much-needed tartar removal procedures, then you can subject yourself to a smile that is compromised by stained and discolored teeth. The tartar deposits on your teeth can make the surface of the tooth enamel more porous. When this happens, any food or beverage you consume, such as drinking wine or eating curry foods, can readily stain your teeth. From an aesthetic perspective, this can impact your confidence to smile as well as tarnish your potential to enjoy a positive social life.
- Bad Breath: Also known as halitosis, bad breath is one of the most common problems associated with the excessive tartar build-up prevailing in your mouth. When bacteria get trapped in the plaque caused by tartar, it can no longer be removed using simple dental hygiene methods like brushing or flossing your teeth. Thus, the resultant accumulation of bacteria produces sulfur compounds that make our breath smell foul and give you the chronic dental issue of halitosis.
- Periodontitis or gum disease: Excessive accumulation of tartar can also lead to more serious dental health issues like periodontitis or gum diseases. When the gumline has been infiltrated with tartar, it increases the risk of gum inflammation and the resultant gum disease known as gingivitis. In an advanced stage, when tartar and plaque are spread across your teeth and gum lines, they can penetrate deep into your bone and connective tissues, thus causing gingivitis, which results in periodontitis and tooth loss.
Therefore, for sound oral health, you will need to remove tartar from your teeth. While there are two ways to remove tartar from your mouth, i.e., by a dental professional or using natural remedies at home, based on the severity of your tartar build-up, our dentists at Dr Michael’s Dental Clinic recommend you get a professional dental cleaning to achieve optimal outcomes in removing your tartar.
5 Natural Plaque and Tartar Removal Methods:
If you just have minor tartar and plaque accumulation, you can easily remove it with any of the natural remedies advised by our dentists. Let us explore these organic techniques:
Baking Soda
All it takes is just one teaspoon of baking soda and a toothbrush to fix your tartar problem. An added advantage of this technique is that it can help whiten your teeth naturally. All you need to do is wet your toothbrush, dab a little amount of baking soda on it, and thoroughly scrub both sides of your teeth and gums. Remember to leave the baking soda on your teeth and gums for at least fifteen minutes before rinsing.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is another sought-after method to fight against the tartar-causing bacteria in your mouth. The acidic nature of white vinegar makes it highly effective in destroying bacteria that breed in your mouth. It also helps prevent infection. This home remedy entails a concoction of salt, two tablespoons of vinegar, and a cup of warm water. Gargle this mixture at least once a day to remove the tartar present in different regions between your teeth and gums.
Orange Peels
Orange peels are another effective way to remove tartar. The vitamin C present in these orange peels consists of effective anti-micro bacterial properties that can cut through layers of plaque and tartar and kill its microbial growth on your teeth. For application, crush the orange peels and make a paste by mixing them with water. Then, with the aid of a toothbrush, apply the mixture directly onto your teeth and gums by brushing your teeth.
Glycerine and Aloe Vera
Both aloe vera and glycerine are advantageous tools for promoting sound well-being. But did you know they can also be used to remove tartar? It's true! Both aloe vera and glycerine are one of the most common natural home remedies to fight against the thick layers of plaque and tartar build-up in your mouth. In addition to this, it can also help whiten and brighten your teeth. For this, you will need to mix one tablespoon of aloe vera gel with a cup of water that is already mixed with baking soda. The same can be done using glycerine as well. Once these mixtures are prepared, you can apply them to a toothbrush and brush your teeth.
Other Home Remedies
Other home remedies that you can use to achieve a bright, tartar-free smile are
- Using a water flosser is more effective than string floss at helping to remove dirt that is lodged in hard-to-reach places in your mouth.
- Maintain a healthy diet incorporating fruits and vegetables. This is also essential to good oral health since tartar occurs when you ingest too many sugars. This can also lead to cavities.
- Use whitening strips. Whitening strips contain hydrogen peroxide, which helps eliminate tartar in a much more effective way than simply brushing your teeth.
- Using targeted products. Make sure you use dental hygiene products that are targeted toward removing plaque and tartar from your mouth. For instance, Tartar-control toothpaste, alternative toothpaste containing baking soda, and mouthwashes with an active green tea component are also other options you can employ to prevent tartar build-up in your teeth.
When do I need to see a doctor?
When the layers of plaque and tartar develop over time, it becomes difficult or practically impossible to remove them with natural methods. Furthermore, if you have severe cases of tartar and plaque accumulation, you are more likely to develop many dental issues such as cavities or gum disease. This is when the dentist or dental hygienist will recommend you get professional help to treat your dental issue. One of the most popularly used dental treatments to get rid of tartar is professional dental cleaning.
Since dental cleaning treatments include scaling and root planing, you can notice a big and improved difference in your teeth. This dental care treatment procedure will help:
- To remove the plaque and tartar present in both the upper and lower regions of the gumline.
- Root planing helps to smooth the tooth roots and improve bone tissue connectivity.
- The lasers used in scaling and root planning treatments are powerful enough to kill bacteria that have seeped deep into the gum pockets.
Tips to Prevent Plaque & Tartar Build-up:
To stop the advent of tartar and the allied dental problems caused by it, you need to start by halting the emergence of plaque in your mouth. Let’s take a look at some ways to prevent plaque and maintain optimal health:
- Make sure that you brush your teeth regularly, at least twice a day
- Use dental floss or a water flosser to clean the interdental spaces in your mouth
- Use the right type of toothbrush and toothpaste, i.e., a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste that are composed of active ingredients (fluoride) to fight tartar
- Mouthwashes with antibacterial properties should be used. They help prevent plaque buildup in your mouth while simultaneously treating halitosis
- Remember to visit the dentist at least twice a year. This will help in the early detection and treatment of your plaque and tartar build-up, thus avoiding your chances of getting cavities
- Make necessary dietary and lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or eating more fruits and vegetables
So now that you understand why tartar is detrimental to your oral health, you can employ the right measures to treat it or prevent it from impeding your dental well-being. Here, at Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic, our team of dental specialists and dental hygienists will help you maintain a tartar-free, healthy smile.
Are you due for a dental check-up? Do you want to reap all the advantages of dental cleaning?
Schedule your next appointment with us today!
