How to get rid of stubborn tartar

One of the most underrated dental problems is tartar. Even though this condition should be paid special attention to so as not to have an impact on tooth decay or disease that is even worse.

Recognizing the causes of tartar

The cause of tartar is the development of plaque that is produced from foods and drinks that contain carbohydrates such as sugar and starch, milk, raisins, cakes, candy, and other soft drinks.

Bacteria accumulated from these types of food and drink will live in the mouth and multiply to produce acid. If these bacteria stay longer in the mouth and teeth, the acid produced can damage tooth enamel resulting in tooth decay.

Plaque can also develop on the roots of the teeth under the gums, causing damage to the bones that support the teeth.

The tartar that is allowed to continue continuously can appear more and more and irritate the gums. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to remove tartar and clean it so it doesn't get worse.

How to remove tartar with scaling

Plaque that is still thin can be removed by regularly brushing and flossing (flossing). However, it is a different story if the plaque has thickened and hardened.

Quoted from the American Academy of Periodontology, thick, hardened plaque needs to be removed with special care that only dentists can do.

Therefore, to get rid of it, it is not enough to just use a toothbrush. In the medical world, the procedure for cleaning tartar is called scaling .

How to clean tartar one is done with a tool called ultrasonic scaler . A special tool that works to remove the tartar between the teeth and on the gum line. These two parts are usually difficult to reach with a toothbrush.

Scaling teeth should ideally be done once every six months. When doing scaling , even very hard tartar can be removed.

Prevents the side effects of tooth scaling

Process scaling it can cause a number of side effects, such as bleeding, swollen gums, and pain. This happens because the corroded gums and teeth are still adapting to the process scaling the.

However, you don't need to worry. These side effects generally subside as soon as the treatment is done.

To prevent discomfort or the return of tartar after the procedure scaling You should avoid the following:

• Food and drinks that are too hot or cold. Quoted from the American Dental Association, after undergoing scaling or scaling, the teeth will become more sensitive for almost a week. Therefore, you should avoid consuming foods and drinks that are still hot or too cold.
• Food and drink too sweet. To prevent tartar from forming again after scaling, it's a good idea to reduce foods and drinks that contain too much sugar, such as candy, chocolate, cookies, and soda.
• Hard textured food. After the teeth have been cleaned of tartar, chewing food may not be as comfortable as usual. Make sure you don't choose foods that are tough and require more energy to chew, such as meat or whole apples.
• Foods that have the potential to prick your gums. Usually, these tiny textures are found in crunchy foods like potato chips or nuts.
• Foods that do not dissolve or crumble easily when chewed. Some foods with a texture that doesn't crumble easily when chewed, such as bread and french fries, become taboo after cleaning tartar.
• Cigarettes and alcohol. Both of these habits can reduce the production of saliva in the mouth. This of course can cause dry mouth and easier plaque buildup. Also, tartar has the potential to reappear.

You can eat foods that are soft and easy to chew, such as soup, mashed potatoes, bananas, yogurt, boiled eggs, and porridge. Apart from being easy to digest and not causing toothache, these foods also help prevent dry mouth.

Another way to remove tartar yourself at home

Scaling is the fastest and safest way to remove tartar. Even so, there are also other ways so that your tartar does not get more and more severe.

1. Brush your teeth twice a day

Brushing regularly is included in the first list as a way to remove tartar as well. Especially for tartar which is still white.

Experts recommend that everyone brush their teeth twice a day, morning after breakfast and at night before bed. To be completely clean, brush your teeth for two minutes.

Most people often brush their teeth very quickly, even within seconds. In fact, brushing your teeth too quickly is ineffective because dirt and plaque still stick to the surface of the teeth.

It is recommended that you brush for 30 seconds for each of the four tooth sections (right side, left side, front, inside).

If done correctly, the total time you will spend brushing your teeth is exactly two minutes.

2. Brush your teeth the right way

Even though you are diligent in brushing your teeth every day, the results will be in vain if the technique is wrong. Let's try to check again, is your brushing technique correct?

Brush your teeth in a circular motion from top to bottom. Make sure you brush every part of your teeth so that any plaque and food residue is removed. Starting from the molars or on the back side on one side of the mouth.

Make sure you don't brush too hard or squeeze your teeth. This habit will actually erode the outer surface of the teeth (enamel) which triggers sensitive teeth.

So, how to clean tartar does not have to brush your teeth as hard.

3. Floss your teeth

Brushing only cleans the surface of the teeth, not reaching the deepest part of the teeth. In fact, most plaque is more often found between the teeth or gums.

So, another way you can do to remove and clean tartar plaque is to floss your teeth (dental floss). Dental floss is effective for cleaning between and the deepest parts of the teeth that are difficult to reach by the bristles.

Regularly flossing your teeth can also reduce the risk of gum disease and bad breath. Flossing is ideally done after brushing your teeth.

4. Use baking soda

Another way you can do to clean stubborn tartar is to brush your teeth using baking soda . Not only effective, this method is claimed to be safe to try.

Baking soda is able to remove plaque without damaging your tooth enamel. In a study also showed that toothpaste containing baking soda is more effective at reducing the amount of plaque.

Not only that, the content of baking soda can protect teeth from losing calcium and enamel. Coupled with the presence of antimicrobial properties to prevent tooth decay.

5. Clean the tongue

Did you know that 50 percent of the bacteria in the mouth actually nest on the surface of the tongue? Therefore, cleaning the tongue also needs to be part of our daily routine.

A mixture of saliva and bacteria can form plaque on the surface of the tongue. Unfortunately, this plaque cannot be removed just by rinsing it with water or gargling with mouthwash.

The best and most effective way to remove plaque stuck to the surface of the tongue is to brush the tongue.

Rub your tongue from the bottom of the tongue and gently pull it forward in one motion. Don't rub it back and forth. Repeat this method several times until your tongue is completely clean or rough.

Don't forget to clean the side of the tongue too. After that, gargle with clean water.

6. Choose the right brush and toothpaste

Using the right toothbrush and toothpaste can also make it easier to remove and clean tartar as well.

Choose a toothbrush that has soft, soft bristles. Adjust the toothbrush head to the width of your mouth, making sure the brush head is not too big or too small.

It is also important to choose a brush with a comfortable grip. That way, it will be easier for you to brush your teeth with the right technique.

For toothpaste, choose one that contains fluoride. This one compound can help clean the plaque that causes tartar. Not only that. Fluoride is also effective in protecting and protecting the tooth surface from decay.

7. Use mouthwash

Gargle with it mouthwash aka mouthwash is also a great way to get rid of tartar. Mouthwash can help remove plaque, dirt, and food debris that sticks to the surface of the teeth.

As a bonus, mouthwash can also help freshen your breath. That way, you avoid the risk of bad breath.

Avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol, as it can cause dry mouth. Also, make sure that the mouthwash product you use has been registered with the POM to ensure its safety.

Gargle with mouthwash after you brush your teeth. Use mouthwash according to the dosage in the instructions for use or recommended by your doctor.

Excessive doses of mouthwash can cause bad side effects or overdose.

8. Stop smoking

In addition to causing impaired heart and lung function, smoking can also cause oral and dental problems. One of them, tartar.

The chemical content in cigarettes can trigger the formation of more tartar. In fact, the tartar of people who smoke tend to be dark black than those of you who don't smoke.

That's why quitting smoking is a great way to help remove tartar. Start slowly and don't hesitate to ask family or close relatives for help.

9. Drink lots of water

Do you want the tartar to disappear and not get worse? Drinking water can be a solution. Drinking lots of water can help increase the production of saliva in the mouth.

Saliva functions to keep the mouth moist and shed plaque and food debris that is on the surface of the teeth. The enzymes contained in saliva can also help fight infection-causing bacteria in the mouth.

If you don't like the taste of plain water, try another way. Add fresh fruit slices or herbs to water, such as lemon, strawberry, kiwi, ginger, and so on.

10. Choose food wisely

Carefully choosing the foods you eat every day is also one way to remove tartar as well. The reason is, what you eat will affect the development of bacteria and plaque in the mouth.

The sweeter or sour your food, the more bacteria will breed in your mouth. Bacteria, plaque, and food scraps that are allowed to continue to accumulate trigger the formation of tartar.

That is why, sweet foods and drinks should be limited.

As a result of tartar if underestimated

The tartar must be cleaned immediately. Although it does not make you sick, this problem should not be taken for granted. Therefore you must know what the consequences if tartar are not treated in the first place.

1. The occurrence of dental disease

If allowed to continue to build up, plaque can irritate and irritate the gums. Plaque will also harden from the gum line and between the teeth causing various other dental problems. One of the problems that can occur is gingivitis.

Gingivitis is a condition when your gums become inflamed. This condition can make the gums sensitive and bleed easily. If gingivitis is left without proper treatment, it will lead to gum disease (periodontitis).

Periodontitis occurs when inflammation in the gums turns into an infection that spreads to the bone that supports the tooth. This condition can make your teeth loose easily and can even fall out on their own.

2. Bad breath

Another problem that can arise due to tartar that is allowed to continue is bad breath. Bad breath can arise because plaque that causes tartar mixes with food debris.

As a result, there is decay in the oral cavity which causes your breath to smell bad.

3. Dull teeth and other problems

In addition, the color of the coral which tends to be thick will certainly make your teeth look dull and unkempt. This will certainly affect your confidence to smile.

A study published in Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Pathology and Surgery find something else. In this study, it was found that chronic gum disease can cause anemia.

Furthermore, bacteria that cause gum infections can spread and enter other organs of the body.

Immediately try the various ways to remove tartar above before it's too late. Good oral health will also affect the overall health of your body.