Say ta-ta to Tartar

This blog looks at tartar and the effects it can have on your dentition and ways in which tartar can be prevented to maintain a happy healthy smile.

What is tartar?

Tartar, or it may be referred to as calculus, is a build up of plaque on the teeth, which has hardened. Tartar can start to develop after only 24 hours, and once tartar has formed, only a dental professional is able to remove it.

Effects of tartar

Tartar can cause:

– Inflamed and infected gums, as it makes it very difficult to brush your teeth and it can form under the gums and above the gum line.

– Discoloration of teeth, as it is a brown or yellow colour.

– Cavities and tooth decay

Prevention

In order to prevent the build up of tartar it is important to maintain a good oral hygiene regime to prevent the build up of plaque. Therefore, brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day and flossing is recommended. It is also advisable to attend regular check ups with a dentist and attending a hygienist in order to have the tartar removed. The hygienist will be able to assist in removing the tartar by the use of a treatment called scaling.

It is also important to eat a balanced diet and limit the intake of sugar in your diet and to try and incorporate the drinking of water during and after meals. The use of fluoride toothpaste is also recommended.

It is vital that people maintain a good level of oral hygiene, not just for the prevention of tartar, as poor oral hygiene has been reported [1] to link to a number of other health problems, such as:

– Heart disease
– Dementia
– Diabetic complications
– Respiratory infections
– Premature birth and low birth weight
– Osteoporosis
– Alzheimer’s disease

Our experience

The Dental Negligence Team has experience in dealing with many dental problems that can arise following poor dental treatment. Please feel free to contact us, if you wish to discuss a potential claim.

Alternatively, if you wish to read more of our blogs, please feel free to visit our website, where we have a range of blogs on different topics which may be of interest to you.