Tartar and Staining
What Is Tartar?
Even if you take great care of your teeth at home, you still have bacteria in your mouth. They mix with proteins and food byproducts to form a sticky film called dental plaque. This gunk coats your teeth (even hard-to-clean areas like your back teeth), gets under your gum line, and sticks to fillings or other dental work.
Plaque can be bad news for teeth. Every time you eat the bacteria create acids that can damage tooth enamel and lead to cavities. The acids can also lead to inflamed or infected gums. But if you remove plaque regularly, you can prevent permanent tooth decay.
Bigger problems arise if plaque stays on your teeth and hardens into tartar. It can form in a little over a day, and once it’s there only a dentist or dental hygienist can remove it.
How Does Tartar Affect Teeth and Gums?
Tartar can make it harder to brush and floss like you should. This can lead to cavities and tooth decay.
Any tartar that forms above your gum line could be bad for you. That’s because the bacteria in it can irritate and damage your gums. Over time this might lead to progressive gum disease.
The mildest form of gum disease is called gingivitis. It can usually be stopped and reversed if you brush, floss and get regular cleanings from your dentist.
If not, it can get worse to the point where pockets form between the gums and teeth and get infected by bacteria. That’s called periodontitis. Your immune system sends chemicals to fight back and they mix with bacteria and the stuff it puts out. The resulting stew can damage the bones and tissues that hold your teeth in place. Also, some studies link the bacteria in gum disease to heart disease and other health problems.
What is staining?
Generally, there are two types of teeth stains: intrinsic (deep) and extrinsic (surface). Intrinsic stains are inside the tooth. Using certain drugs can cause these teeth stains; they develop gradually and are very often more prominent in older people. Smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee and tea cause surface stains on teeth.
If you are concerned about tartar or staining on your teeth you can book an appointment to see one of our highly qualified dentists or hygienist. We can carry out hygiene treatment that would involve both removal of tartar and also stain removal. We use the latest equipment including air polish that can remove almost 100% of stain from your teeth giving your teeth their natural beauty back.
