Amelia Grant

I am Amelia Grant, journalist, and blogger. I think that information is a great force that is able to change people’s lives for the better. That is why I feel a strong intention to share useful and important things about health self-care, wellness and other advice that may be helpful for people. Being an enthusiast of a healthy lifestyle that keeps improving my life, I wish the same for everyone.

How Often Should You Remove Your Dental Tartar?

Dental tartar is a very common problem relating to oral hygiene. There are so many people suffering from it that it looks like humanity is doomed to have it and no one will escape it. However, dental tartar deposits are preventable, with proper hygiene and a responsible attitude to oral health.

 

Why Do We Develop Dental Tartar

What is tartar and where does it come from? It’s the waste from the vital activity of bacteria that live in our mouth and the food leftovers left there. If we don’t remove them properly, feed the bacteria with foods they like and create a chemical balance that is friendly to them - their population will grow, and so will the amount of waste they produce. 

 

The problem of dental tartar, or calculus, can also be conditioned by abnormalities of occlusion and poor dental health. Every problem in your mouth that doesn’t let every tooth play its role in the process of chewing or deprives you of cleaning it properly (crooked teeth with hard-to-reach places or missing teeth that make you chew on only one side of your mouth), increases the possibility for the dental tartar to accumulate.

 

There are also internal factors that play their role in this process. Metabolic disorders related to increased production of phosphates increase the amount of dental tartar deposits. Food habits matter as well - the more hard food you eat, the less tartar you have because hard food works as a natural cleanser for our teeth. This is how our predecessors maintained their oral hygiene when there were no dentists and toothbrushes.

 

If you have a sweet tooth and can’t imagine your life without sweets and gallons of soda, your oral bacteria will thank you for this - sugar is their favorite food. But your teeth and gums won’t because cavities and severe gum disease as the result of massive tartar deposits is what they get because of your poor oral habits.

 

When to Remove Dental Tartar?

Unfortunately, you often can’t remove dental tartar at home. When it’s too hard and massive, it needs special equipment and the work of qualified specialist to remove it. But you can remove the soft white plaque that forms in our mouth every day. It can be easily removed with a toothbrush. But if it stays there, one night is enough for it to be turned into a hard film that can’t be brushed off. There are home remedies to remove slight deposits of tartar but if the problem went out of control, visit a specialist.

 

It all depends on your individual dynamics of collecting it. In general, in-office removal of dental tartar is required 1-2 times a year. However, due to the factors described above, some people may need it more often - every several months. You can see it visually and estimate yourself whether you need the cleaning procedure badly or it can wait for a few months.

 

How to Slow Down the Development of Tartar?

It’s not difficult at all although many people fail it. All you should do is:

 

  • Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes with the proper toothbrush and technique
  • Eat raw fruits and vegetables
  • Don’t be too fond of sweets and fatty food that participates in the metabolism
  • Treat your oral diseases and crooked teeth
  • Visit your dentist regularly to avoid problems with teeth that can cause increased tartar development

 

As you see, it’s not difficult at all. Keep your teeth clean and healthy, and you will avoid many problems.