Tartar is a nasty thing, something you definitely don’t want to build-up in your mouth. What is tartar? A hard form of gunk that forms on your teeth and unlike plaque, cannot be removed on your own. If you have tartar built up on your teeth, you will need to go to the dentist to get this taken care of right away.
Why should you worry about getting tartar removed? It can not only create stains on your teeth but a severe form of periodontitis causing your gums to begin to recede. Receding gums is a problem causing the pain because the roots are exposed. Your roots are normally protected by your gums but when exposed you will feel every little bit of air, food or liquid that touches your oral cavity. Yikes!
Your dentist can help you get gums back where they belong by performing a graft from tissue somewhere else in your mouth. You can even go to the dentist for professional whitening so those stains can be removed but if you take care of your teeth in the first place, you will not have to worry about either procedure.
Where does tartar form? Above and/or below your gum line. So, how do you avoid tartar?
This kind of toothbrush can help you get rid of bacteria on your teeth better than a regular toothbrush. The motor gives more power than manually cleaning your mouth and some toothbrushes are equipped with a timer, so you can be sure you are brushing your teeth for 2 minutes at a time. Yes, this is the essential amount of time you should be set aside to get those teeth clean. Your electric toothbrush might even have various modes of cleaning such as deep clean and sensitivity, so you can be sure to use whatever mode suits your situation best.
A toothpaste made specifically to help fight tartar will be ideal if you want to keep those icky bugs away. This kind of toothpaste will have a particular amount of fluoride in it which helps ward off plaque and tartar more easily than a regular paste.
If you smoke tobacco or weed, you will learn that both are bad for your oral health. Why? The chemicals in cigarettes or weed weaken your strong enamel and allow negative bacteria to easily form. Smoking every day causes an increase in this negative effect and soon you will not be able to get rid of the gunk left by your bad habit. Stop smoking and start a good habit instead. Maybe try to pretend smoking with some candy cigars for instance or chowing down on some carrots and celery. Why wouldn’t you avoid tartar if you could?
Take away the risk of tartar and make sure you brush and floss your teeth twice a day. Visit the dentist if you have concerns about plaque build-up as this can lead to tartar.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Gurshant Grewal - a Registered Dentist on January 30, 2020
