Author: Lizzie Smith – blog last updated on Wednesday 6th January 2024
Do you suffer from tartar, and do you want to know how to prevent it from forming in the first place? And what about the tartar that nevertheless deposits on your teeth anyway?
In this article, we’ll look at what tartar is and why it’s on our teeth. We’ll also discuss the dangers and how to prevent it from occurring.
What is tartar?
You’ve heard of the saying, „Know your enemy“? Well, it applies to tartar, so you need to know how it ends up on your teeth. Firstly, tartar can’t form without dental plaque (otherwise known as plaque). This thin, soft layer forms on your teeth during the day through a mixture of food residues, saliva and bacteria.
By brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day, it’s easy to remove this sticky substance. But if you don’t remove the plaque, it hardens into tartar, which happens under the influence of minerals such as calcium and phosphates in your saliva. While plaque is barely visible, tartar is. In addition to the risks, the yellow or brown deposit stops your teeth from appearing as white as you’d like them to.
The acidity levels in your mouth greatly influence the extent and speed at which dental plaque turns into tartar. Low acidity in the oral cavity promotes the formation of tartar.
Incidentally, tartar doesn’t deposit equally easily and quickly on all areas of your teeth. It mainly occurs where dental plaque remains, such as on the border between teeth and gums and the spaces between your teeth. The back of your lower teeth is also susceptible to tartar because of the proximity to your salivary glands.
The dangers of tartar
Tartar (calculus) is the destroyer of your teeth! Because, unlike tooth enamel, it’s rough and porous. If your tooth enamel is smooth, tartar won’t be able to form there. However, if the tooth surface has been roughened by tartar, plaque can easily remain behind. This then hardens to form tartar. It’s a vicious circle!
Tartar can also grow under the gums. This is known as sub-gingival tartar, and it can cause the gums to recede. In these spaces (known as pockets) that are then created, even more plaque can accumulate, which can also turn into tartar. Bacteria can then go undisturbed about their business in these pockets, leading to gum disease (gingivitis).
Inflamed gums can eventually lead to periodontitis, which also affects the dentin. If this isn’t treated, your teeth will become loose and eventually fall out. Receded gums and pockets should, therefore, always be treated by the dentist.
The visible, supragingival tartar can also cause problems. Tartar is porous, meaning it discolours much more easily compared to smooth and clean tooth enamel. For example, through the dyes in food or drink. If you want to do everything you can to keep your teeth white, tartar is the last thing you need.
How to prevent tartar
As we said earlier, if there’s no plaque, there’s no tartar. So to prevent tartar (and the associated gingivitis and discolouration), removing dental plaque from your teeth twice a day is essential. You can do this through basic oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes. Electric and sonic toothbrushes clean best, but if you feel more comfortable with a manual toothbrush, that’s fine too.
No matter how meticulous you brush, the ingredients in your toothpaste also significantly impact your oral health. And that eventually affects the amount of tartar that deposits on your teeth.
Don’t use toothpaste containing harmful ingredients such as alcohol, triclosan, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), sugars, parabens, chemical flavours and dyes. A better alternative is RyttPro Toothpaste Magic Mint. It contains the powerful but safe formula OZ-3X, which effectively removes dental plaque without disturbing the natural balance of your oral flora. Fluoride and hydrated silicon remineralise your teeth, thereby protecting them against caries.
RyttPro Toothpaste foams with a mild coconut-based foaming agent and has a soft mint-lemon flavour for a fresh taste.
After brushing your teeth, you should also clean the interdental spaces (the places between your teeth) because plaque accumulates here that the toothbrush cannot reach. You can keep these areas clean with dental floss, toothpicks and interdental brushes (tooth cleaners).
Then after brushing and flossing, use a mouthwash to help remove plaque and prevent tartar. It works by washing away the last remnants of dental plaque. But as with your toothpaste, you should be aware of the ingredients. RyttPro Oral Rinse is a safe choice.
Both RyttPro Toothpaste and RyttPro Oral Rinse are specifically created to fight harmful bacteria using safe ingredients that support oral flora. You can use this mouthwash indefinitely because it won’t disturb your oral flora. Furthermore, it contains no harmful chemicals, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) or unnecessary flavourings and colourings.
Have you still got tartar?
No matter how hard you try to keep your teeth free of tartar, most people will still have some tartar deposits. So it should be removed constantly.
While dental plaque can still be brushed away, the hard tartar must be mechanically chipped off. This is done during dental cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist. If you have a steady hand and the right equipment, you can remove a light degree of tartar yourself. However, you should only do this on the visible supra-gingival tartar, and you must use the right tools.
The Profi dental hook is a set of two dental hooks and a mouth mirror. With these stainless steel instruments, you can (if you have a steady hand and a good light source)remove the visible tartar from your teeth. The dental hooks have different ends, from a sharp hook to a rubber pick to massage your gums.
The Moist-R Whitening Sponge is an innovative way to safely clean your teeth on a deep level. This innovative marker uses the enormous absorption capacity of nano-particles. These particles form nano-capillary tubes when they come into contact with water, so they can easily erase contaminants from your teeth. Dental plaque quickly disappears after a few uses. To remove tartar and discolourations from your teeth, you’ll have to use the sponge more intensively.
Also, make sure you have your teeth checked regularly for sub-gingival tartar, as you can’t remove this type of tartar by yourself.
Keep your teeth clean and white.
Once your teeth are free from tartar, you’ll want to do everything you can to keep them that way. Brush your teeth thoroughly for two minutes twice a day. Preferably with an electric toothbrush and a good toothpaste, such as the RyttPro Toothpaste Lemon & Mint, which we mentioned above. Floss or brush the spaces between your teeth and rinse with RyttPro Oral Rinse.
If you want to do even more to keep your teeth as white as possible (all in a safe way), try Duēlle Whitening powder. This easy and gentle bleaching method contains the gentle bleaching ingredient PAP (phthalimide peroxy-caproic acid). The minerals HAP (hydroxyapatite) and calcium carbonate have been added to the powder to protect and strengthen your teeth through remineralisation.
Sources
British Dental Association: Myth busters on brushing your teeth
British Dental Journal: Dental calculus – oral health, forensic studies and archaeology: a review