Your oral hygiene habits and semi-annual appointments to your dentist are vital to protecting your oral health. Brushing and flossing are needed to preventing plaque accumulations, which is a colorless film of bacteria. When plaque is not removed, it will continue to form along the gum line, leading to cavities and gum disease. Over time, the plaque will harden and turn into tarter. At this point, gum disease will likely develop. You will not be able to remove the accumulations on your own. You will need your Weatherford dentist to remove the tarter buildup.
What is Tarter?
Tarter is calcified or hardened plaque, also known as calculus. When plaque is not removed from the teeth each day with oral hygiene and by your dentist twice a year with regular cleanings, the plaque will harden to form tarter. Tarter spreads below the gum line, which not only makes the teeth more difficult to clean, but will also cause gum disease.
Tarter is easy to distinguish from plaque. Plaque is a colorless film that develops on the teeth. Tarter, on the other hand, appears as a brown or yellow hardened accumulations around the gums and in between the teeth.
Why Should Tarter Be Removed?
As with plaque, tarter offers the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Unlike plaque, tarter is actually a mineral buildup that can easily be seen above the gum line. However, tarter can extend down below the gum line to form in areas that cannot be seen. When not removed, this will cause irritation to the gums. Often, an infection will develop due to the bacteria in tarter, leading to periodontal disease.
Gum disease causes significant damage to your oral health. If not related promptly, the infection in the gums can eventually lead to the loss of your teeth. However, the complications of periodontal disease extend beyond your oral health. Your overall health is directly linked to your oral health. The presence of gum disease is known to lead to serious medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease.
How is Tarter Removed?
Unfortunately, once tarter develops, you cannot remove it on your own. You will need a professional cleaning to remove the buildups. However, a simple dental cleaning from your Aledo dentist will not be enough. You will likely need a specialized procedure known as scaling. Scaling involves the use of specific dental instruments to remove tarter from above and below the gum line.
How Can I Prevent Tarter?
Tarter is easy to prevent with proper home oral hygiene habits. You need to brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily. In addition, you need to visit the dentist twice a year for regular dental checkups and cleanings. By keeping plaque and bacteria levels to a minimum, tarter will not have the opportunity to develop.
As your family dentist, we want to ensure the health and beauty of your smile. We offer the prevention you need to stop the development of tarter. If tarter has already formed, we provide the services you need to remove the buildup. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation.