How to remove tartar from teeth? 5 tips

A person's smile is one of the gestures that we tend to pay attention to in a positive sense, generally being an expression of joy, affection, or enthusiasm for a situation or person. In it, one of the elements that stand out the most are the teeth. And in a world where physical appearance is highly valued and desired, caring for them is essential.

But they are not only important in this sense, but in fact their main function is to allow us to crush food in such a way that we can eat it. the act of feeding causes a large number of bacteria to reach our mouths, which if they are not removed through good hygiene can generate tartar. And in addition to being unsightly, it can be dangerous for teething, so it is advisable to remove it.

How to remove tartar? Let's look at some ways to do it or at least decrease it throughout this article.

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What is tartar and why does it appear?

Tartar, tartar or dental calculus is known as the hardened and calcified accumulation of bacterial plaque in our teeth, which is directly observable as a

yellowish, whitish or brownish mass located in the enamel of the tooth and around its junction with the gingiva. It is formed when salts such as calcium and phosphorus accumulate together with the bacteria present in our teeth and those that come from food, generally in those areas of difficult access such as between the teeth.

Tartar is somewhat annoying and visually unpleasant, but beyond that and if it is not removed it is also the gateway to a wide variety of dental problems, by being able to form colonies of bacteria on its surface or in the regions it leaves once removed. Among them we can find the dreaded periodontitis or pyorrhea, which can end with the loss of teeth, bleeding, bad breath or the appearance of cavities.

Tartar can appear for multiple reasons. The most common is the presence of deficient dental hygiene, either because it is not carried out or because it does not include all the areas where food scraps may end up (for example, not everyone cleans themselves in the space between teeth). But it must also be taken into account that the consumption of certain foods and substances (for example, coffee or tobacco), suffering from diseases such as diabetes or some drugs have an important influence on its possible appearance.

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Remove tartar from our mouth: how to remove it?

As we have seen, having tartar is negative and can facilitate the arrival of various problems. That is why it is necessary to remove or eliminate it. In this sense, among the various options that can be taken to reduce the levels of tartar, we find the following.

1. Regular and deep brushing

The first and most obvious step is to recover or initiate basic dental hygiene habits. In this sense, the first thing will be to brush your teeth after each meal, regularly and habitually. It is important that a deep cleaning is carried out regularly. Fluoride-containing toothpastes are recommended.

2. Floss

As we have seen before, many people do not clean the space between their teeth since the brush itself does not reach there. These areas are a very important nest of bacteria if nothing is done, and to avoid it, dental floss can be used.

3. Mouthwash

A third general step when it comes to eliminating or preventing tartar is to use mouthwashes, which allow drag the tartar and dirt particles out of the tooth at the same time that in most cases they act as agents antiseptics. This makes it difficult for tartar to appear.

It must be taken into account that its use does not imply that they should not brush their teeth, but that it is something complementary.

4. dental cleaning

The previous steps are useful when it comes to preventing the appearance of tartar or treating its existence in its origins, although later and once a hardening has occurred it will be necessary to apply other measures. In fact, one of the only ones that can allow the removal of tartar from all oral areas and regardless of its hardness and age is dental cleaning, that is, that performed by a dentist or dentist.

Within the interventions carried out in this sense, the procedure known as tartrectomy or removal of tartar / tartar is usually used. It uses techniques such as scraping, which can be coronal or radicular and in which it seeks to remove the visible tartar on the teeth or that which forms on the inside of the gum. It is recommended to do it once every six months or a year.

5. Homemade alternatives that can help reduce it

In addition to all of the above, there are methods traditionally used to try to remove dental plaque and tartar, if well in the background its action is mainly focused on the use of the ability to scratch and remove tartar as if we were brushing. Of course, these alternatives must be made as a complement, not as a substitute.

Among these alternatives, one of the best known is the use of bicarbonate, which is useful for whitening and eliminating harmful elements such as dental calculus. In this sense, it is important to take into account that this can be positive for these actions, but it also contributes to destroying the image. Also the fact of eating an apple or fruit, especially if it is with its skin, helps to remove dirt.

Bibliographic references:

• Jin, Y; Yip, H. K. (2002). "Supragingival calculus: formation and control". Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine. 13 (5): 426 - 441.
• Westfelt, Elisabeth (1996). "Rationale of mechanical plaque control". Journal of Clinical Periodontology. 23 (3): 263 - 267.