Tartar is not just an aesthetic problem- it is the cause of a myriad of other illnesses as well. Ugliness aside, it is the hotbed of most other diseases, and the precursor to alveolitis, and it can negatively impact every part of the body as well. Our article wishes to show you what kind of illnesses can be prevented with removing the tartar and plaque.
What kind of illnesses can be prevented by removing tartar?
Unkempt, brownish teeth are an ugly sight to behold, but aside from that, they are also the cause of halitosis or chronic bad breath, but these are just the smallest issues that plaque and tartar can cause. Accumulation of plaque and tartar will usually be followed by inflammation of the gums, which means that the gums will become red and puffy, and will most likely bleed during brushing or flossing.
If gum infections like periodontitis and alveolitis are left unchecked and untreated for too long, gum recession becomes a very real possibility, and the gums will become thinner and smaller, receding back from the teeth, exposing ever more vulnerable parts of it. The infection can reach not just the gums, but also the jawbones, which can result in teeth loosening, area sin the mouth can become sensitive to hot and cold and sudden changes in temperature, and more severe cases can involve tooth loss.
Tartar can also lead to tooth decay, as the biochemical interactions between the tooth surface and the plaque or tartar will result in the disintegration of the tooth enamel, and this will cause the acids that are produced when digesting carbohydrates to further dissolve the minerals in the tooth, creating cavities.
Tartar deposits that have not been treated and have been neglected for a long time can also end up harming other parts of your body as well. If your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, than the bacteria present in the mouth and in the soft tissues of the mouth can enter your bloodstream through the tiny lesions, and they can stick to the platelets in your blood. This can cause the blood to congeal while in your veins, forming blood clots that can plug up your veins and arteries, which can cause all sorts of damage to your body, some of it fatal.
The process of removing plaque and tartar
There is no need to be afraid though, if you happen to find some tartar on your teeth, as tartar removal is a completely routine dental treatment that can be performed safely, with ease in practically any dental clinic.
There are two methods of removing tartar from the tooth surfaces: one is manual, which can take a long time and can be downright painful, and the other, more popular and effective solution is to use ultrasonic frequencies.
Ultrasonic tartar removal is extremely gentle: it does not harm the teeth or dental prosthetics like crowns or bridges. A dental scaler ends in a tiny, thin point that emits ultrasonic frequencies, which can break up and later wash off the dried on plaque and tartar. Aside from the tooth surfaces, you can remove tartar from the tooth gaps as well.
The procedure starts with a mild anaesthetic that is administered to the gums, and the ultrasonic hand device and scaler are only used after there is no feeling in the gums, to ensure the comfort of the patient. The point of the scaler vibrates gently, creating air currents that help remove the tartar from the tooth surfaces, essentially blowing them off of the treated tooth surface.
A typical session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. Hard to reach spots are treated with a special hand device.
After an ultrasonic hygiene session, it is necessary to polish the teeth. This is done with a special paste, brushes and a rubber. This procedure is necessary because it makes tooth surfaces smooth and even, which is more difficult for bacteria to adhere to.
A regular and thorough at home oral hygiene routine will provide you with nice, tartar free teeth, but we highly recommend getting a hygiene treatment every six months.