Tartar is mineral buildup on teeth that can lead to gum disease, bad breath, and hiding plaque. It is caused by poor oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes, and dry mouth. Prevention includes daily brushing, flossing, and dental visits, and tartar-control toothpaste can help. Pregnant women should have dental cleanings before becoming pregnant, and there may be a link between gum disease and heart disease.
Tartar refers to mineral deposits on the teeth, both above and below the gums that have hardened. These deposits are easy to recognize as they tend to stain easily and you may notice spots on your teeth with brown or yellow stains. These stains are usually not on the teeth themselves but on tartar, also called tartar, buildup. This buildup is distinct from plaque, which is caused by bacteria on the teeth, but both are usually found in the mouths of people who have poor oral hygiene.
There are two types of tartar: supragingival and subgingival. Supragingival refers to tartar deposits above the gum and subgingival to deposits below the gum. Once these deposits have formed, they cannot be removed on their own and dental cleaning is required to remove them, usually with sharp abrasive instruments. Removing these tartar deposits is important, as they can lead to chronically inflamed gums and gum disease, gum recession, and persistent bad breath. Tartar also accelerates plaque formation and helps hide plaque deposits, which in turn can create a greater risk of periodontal disease.
The easiest way to prevent buildup is to follow standards for daily oral hygiene and biennial brushing visits. People should plan to brush their teeth at least twice a day, three times if they can manage. They should also floss twice a day and also make and keep brushing appointments twice a year. You can purchase tartar-control toothpaste and may want to consider using it when tartar builds up quickly, even despite good oral hygiene.
Other common risk factors for increased stone accumulation include smoking, diabetes, and taking medications that cause dry mouth. Keeping your sugar levels in check if you have diabetes can help reduce tartar buildup, and for many health reasons, quitting smoking is a great idea. Some studies also show that oral buildup and gum inflammation or gum disease in pregnant women may be linked to low birth weight in babies and heart disease as well.
Most obstetricians recommend having a substantial dental cleaning before trying to become pregnant, and having any dental work done such as fillings done before trying. On the heart disease issue, it’s a fact that people are more at risk for bacterial endocarditis when they have gum disease, which can be precipitated by tartar. Many people who have heart disease also have gum disease, but medical researchers have not yet identified a causal relationship. Neglect of one’s health, poor diet and smoking can cause both heart disease and gum disease and could explain the presence of both conditions in many people.
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