Is teeth cleaning effective in removing tartar?

There is a difference between dental plaque and tartar. Dental plaque can be removed as long as good oral care is maintained in daily life, while tartar must be removed through treatments such as teeth cleaning. Therefore, generally speaking, it is not necessary to have your teeth cleaned if you have dental plaque. You can use some other methods to remove it. After all, dental plaque is relatively easy to remove.

The so-called dental plaque is mainly composed of a mixture of food residues, shed epithelium of the oral mucosa, mucin in saliva, and bacteria. Dental plaque is relatively soft and can be easily removed by brushing teeth. Tartar is formed by mineralized plaque and other deposits on the tooth surface. Tartar is relatively hard and tightly attached to the teeth. It cannot be removed by brushing. It must be scraped off with an instrument. The teeth can be divided into two parts, supragingival and subgingival, based on the gingival edge. Tartar is attached to the tooth surface.

Therefore, it is divided into supragingival calculus and subgingival calculus. Supragingival tartar is generally larger in size, looser in texture, and yellow or white in color. It may also turn darker due to smoking or pigmentation. Subgingival tartar is small and hard, brown or black, and is more firmly attached than supragingival tartar. Under a microscope, tartar has a lamellar structure with crystals of various shapes in the center and a layer of unmineralized plaque on the surface.

There is a close relationship between dental plaque, tartar and periodontal disease. Experiments have shown that under sterile conditions, the mechanical stimulation of the gums by the rough surface of tartar alone does not cause obvious inflammation of the gums. However, the harm of long-term accumulation of food impaction and tartar to periodontal tissues lies mainly in that it constitutes a good site for plaque attachment and breeding. In addition, the presence of tartar will hinder oral hygiene and promote the formation of more plaque. Tartar itself is also prone to absorb more bacterial toxins, causing irritation to soft tissues, causing gum congestion and edema, and bleeding when brushing teeth.

When gingivitis continues to develop into deeper tissues, there may even be a tendency for spontaneous gingival bleeding and bad breath. As the alveolar bone is destroyed, the teeth will become loose, displaced, and chewing will become difficult.

Tartar is very harmful and can easily cause oral bacteria to grow. It can also cause great damage to teeth and often accelerate the invasion of healthy teeth. Therefore, you must take good care of your oral health, brush your teeth at least two to three times a day, develop the habit of rinsing your mouth after eating, and master the correct oral health care methods.