Tartar trouble - Get rid of it

IF YOU’RE the kind who spends less than a minute brushing your teeth in the morning and may or may not repeat the act before bedtime, with no time to think about it in the interim, the odds are that you’re most probably unaware of exactly how clean your mouth is. Of course, its not easy to be eager and excited at 7 am or at 11 pm, but the benefits of the care you take are entirely yours. /read on about the consequences of neglecting good oral hygiene.

What is tartat? How does it form?

Dental plaque, which is a film of microorganisms, readily forms on surfaces of teeth after one to two days of no oral tidiness measures. This soft plaque is hardened by precipitation of mineral salts and calcification has been reported the start in as little as four to eight hours. Plaque becomes 50 percent mineralised in 12 days. This hardened plaque, which becomes and adherent mass on the surface of natural teeth and dental prosthesis is called tartar or calculus.

Facts About Tartar

The rate of calcification and accumulation of tartar varies from person to person, in different teeth and at different times in the same person. On the basis of these differences, persons may be classified as heavy, moderate or slight calculus formers or as non-calculus formers.

Tartar is classified based on its location to the margin of the gums. Supragingival calculus is visible in the mouth, is usually white or whitish yellow, has a hard, claylike consistency and is easily detached from the tooth surface.

On the other hand, subgingival calculus is located below the crest of the margin of the gums and hence is not visible routinely. It is usually dense, dark brown or greenish black and hard or flint-like in consistency and is firmly attached to the tooth surface.Besides being unhygienic, tartar is instrumental in the commencement and progression of various gum diseases like gingivitis (inflammation of gums) and recession (shrinking of gums).

Appropriate dental care

In addition to bad breath, tartar deposits on the teeth impinge on the gums and exert pressure due to which there may be bleeding while tooth brushing. However, even if you haven’t noticed these symptoms, you could still have tartar deposists in your mouth. So, check with your dentist for an ultrasonic cleaning of teeth to eliminate tartar and walk way armed with a good set of oral hygiene instructions.

The author is dental surgeon and can be contacted at ALL SMILES DENTAL CLINIC, 26673439