Dental Consultants Discussing Plaque and Tartar Control

Two important dental hygiene issues are plaque and tartar control. Patients often confuse plaque and tartar and how they’re related to each other. Read on to learn how to differentiate them and tailor your dental hygiene routine to help control them. Dental plaque is a sticky, colorless film that continually forms in between and on the surface of the teeth. It is formed, as in any biofilm, by colonizing bacteria trying to attach itself to a smooth surface of a tooth. It has been estimated that as many as 400 distinct bacterial species may be found in plaque. In addition to the bacterial cells, plaque contains a small number of epithelial cells, leukocytes, and macrophages. Inorganic components are also found in dental plaque; largely calcium and phosphorus which are primarily derived from saliva. Dental plaque can be classified in several different ways. Plaque is classified as supragingival or subgingival based on its relationship to the gingival margin. Supragingival plaque is evident on the tooth above the gingival margin says Dental Consultants. Plaque can also be classified by its relationship to the tooth surface, as either attached or unattached plaque. Unattached subgingival plaque is more closely associated with the wall of the subgingival tissues than is the attached plaque.

Symptoms of Plaque

Plaque that is not removed can transform into deposits of calculus when calcium, phosphorous, and other minerals from saliva form crystals and harden. The main component of calculus is calcium phosphate, a hard, insoluble compound that bonds to the tooth enamel near or below the gum line.All plaque and tartar is harmful to the teeth as it promotes tooth decay as it eats away at the enamel on the teeth. As tartar builds on a tooth, it forms a rough surface that makes it even easier for food particles and substances from beverages to adhere to the tooth. This promotes more plaque and more tartar as the plaque is left behind and changes composition to form tartar.It is the subgingival tartar that is the most danger to oral health. Plaque and tartar under the gum line cannot be seen. Left there, it can cause periodontal disease. The gums become inflamed or puffy looking. Pockets form on the gums where tartar build up and bacteria hide. These pockets promote more bacteria and decay of the tooth and the roots of the tooth from beneath the gum line states Dental Consultants. The pockets can cause the gums to recede and expose portions of the teeth that should not be exposed and have no enamel to protect them. As the periodontal disease advances, the jaw bone becomes involved, teeth loosen, and can actually fall out of the person’s head.

Tartar

Tartar, also called calculus, is a crusty deposit that can trap stains on the teeth and cause discoloration. Calcium and phosphate bind to form crystals on the teeth. These calcium phosphate crystals eventually harden within plaque, forming calculus. Certain types of chemicals called pyrophosphates help to decrease calculus buildup by stopping the growth of crystals on the tooth surface and preventing new crystals from forming. Tartar creates a strong bond that can only be removed by a dental professional. Its formation may also make it more difficult to remove new plaque bacteria, thus potentially creating problems further down the road. Unlike plaque, which is a colorless film of bacteria, tartar is a mineral buildup that’s fairly easy to see if above the gumline. The most common sign of tartar is a yellow or brown color to teeth or gums. The only way for sure to detect tartar — and to remove it — is to see your dentist. Once tartar has formed, only your dentist or hygienist can remove it. The process for removing tartar is called scaling. During a scaling, the dentist or hygienist uses special instruments to remove tartar from your teeth above and below the gumline.

Removal & Prevention

Plaque and tartar do not affect everyone in the same way; individuals vary greatly in their susceptibility and resistance. For many of us, these deposits build up faster as we age, meaning the older you get, the more closely you have to monitor your dental hygiene routine. There are, however, several ways in which you can alter your dental hygiene practices to help protect your teeth from the buildup of plaque and tartar. A dental appointment should be made for a routine cleaning and examination. After the hygienist has seen the patient, the dentist will come in to do an examination. The dental professional will be able to immediately recognize periodontal disease if pockets are on the gums, if it is present. To remove the tartar on the teeth, the dentist will recommend a series of root planing and scaling appointments to clean all four quadrants of the mouth. Prevention steps of practicing good oral hygiene habits through regular brushing and flossing can greatly reduce tartar. Those who do see tartar on their teeth, should make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible. It can mean the difference in saving or losing teeth explains Dental Consultants. During my years of work in the dental field, the only patients I saw come through the office that had teeth fall out were those who did not practice good oral hygiene and had gum disease. Those with poor oral hygiene habits, including failure to keep routine dental visits, were also the patients who had the most cavities and other oral health problems.

Dental Consultants Discussing Plaque and Tartar Control