A person’s smile is one of the gestures that we most often focus on in a positive sense, generally being an expression of joy, affection or excitement about a situation or person. In it, one of the elements that stand out the most are the teeth. And in a world where physical appearance is highly valued and desired, taking care of them is essential.
But they are not only important in this sense, but in fact their main function is to allow us to grind food in such a way that we can ingest it. The act of feeding It sends a large amount of bacteria to our mouths, which if not removed through good hygiene can generate tartar. And in addition to being unsightly, it can be dangerous for teeth, so it is advisable to eliminate it.
How to remove tartar? Let’s look at some ways to do it or at least reduce it throughout this article.
The hardened and calcified accumulation of bacterial plaque on our teeth is known as tartar, tartar or dental calculus, which is directly observable as a yellowish, whitish or brownish mass located in the enamel of the tooth and around its junction with the gum It is formed when salts such as calcium and phosphorus accumulate together with the bacteria present on our teeth and those that come from food, generally in those areas that are difficult to access such as between the teeth.
Tartar is something annoying and visually unpleasant, but beyond that and if it is not removed It is also the gateway to a wide variety of dental problems, as colonies of bacteria can form on its surface or in the regions it leaves once removed. Among them we can find the dreaded periodontitis or pyorrhea, which can end with the loss of teeth, bleeding, bad breath or the appearance of cavities.
Tartar can appear for multiple reasons. The most common is the presence of poor dental hygiene, either because it is not carried out or because it does not include all the areas where food remains can end up (for example, not everyone cleans the space between their teeth). . But we must also take into account that the consumption of certain foods and substances (for example, coffee or tobacco), the suffering of diseases such as diabetes or some drugs have an important influence on its possible appearance.
Remove tartar from our mouth: how to remove it?
As we have seen, having tartar is negative and can facilitate the onset of various problems. That is why it is necessary to remove or eliminate it. In this sense, among the various options that can be taken to reduce tartar levels, we find the following.
1. Regular and deep brushing
The first and most obvious step is to recover or start basic dental hygiene habits In this sense, the first thing will be to brush your teeth after each meal, regularly and habitually. It is important that deep cleaning is carried out regularly. Toothpastes containing fluoride are recommended.
As we have seen before, many people do not clean the space between their teeth because the brush itself doesn’t reach there These areas are a very important nest for bacteria if nothing is done, and to avoid this, dental floss can be used.
3. Mouthwash
A third general step when removing or preventing tartar is to use mouthwashes, which allow particles of tartar and dirt to be dragged away from the tooth while, in most cases, acting as antiseptic agents. This makes it difficult for tartar to appear.
It must be taken into account that its use It does not imply that you should not brush your teeth, but it is something complementary
4. Dental cleaning
The previous steps are useful when preventing the appearance of tartar or treating its existence at its origins, although later and once hardening has occurred, it will be necessary to apply other measures. In fact, one of the only ways that can allow the removal of tartar from all oral areas and regardless of its hardness and age is dental cleaning, that is, that performed by a dentist or dentist
Among the interventions carried out in this sense, the procedure known as tartrectomy or removal of tartar is usually used. It uses techniques such as scaling, which can be coronal or root and seeks to remove the visible tartar on the teeth or the tartar that forms on the inside of the gum. It is recommended to do one once every six months or a year.
In addition to everything previously said, there are methods traditionally used to try to eliminate dental plaque and tartar, although in essence their action focuses mainly on the use of the ability to scratch and remove tartar as if we were brushing it. Of course, these alternatives should be made as a complement, not as a substitute.
Among these alternatives, one of the best known is the use of bicarbonate, which is useful for whitening and eliminating harmful elements such as dental calculus. In this sense, it is important to keep in mind that this can be positive for these actions, but it also contributes to destroying the image. Also eating an apple or fruit, especially if it is with its skin, helps remove dirt.
