It is important to remove the plaque from the tooth surface by regular brushing before it turns into tartar. When dental plaque is not cleaned regularly, it turns into tartar. If tartar is present in the mouth for a long time and is not cleaned under the supervision of a doctor, it may cause problems such as gum diseases, tooth decay and bad breath.
What is Dental Stone?
Food residues left in the mouth after meals in daily life combine with saliva and oral bacteria over time, causing plaque to form around the teeth. The mass of these plaques that accumulate around the teeth consists of 65-70% live bacteria. Failure to clean these plaques from around the teeth in time causes the plaques to combine with minerals such as calcium and phosphate in the saliva in the mouth, harden and turn into dental stone. Dental tartar forms on and around the teeth, in areas close to the gum line. The colors of dental stones, which mostly form on the back of the teeth and between the teeth, are brown and yellow.
What Causes Dental Stone?
Tartar formation begins when food residues in the mouth combine with the proteins in saliva and stick to the surrounding teeth. Later, many bacteria in the mouth settle on the layer that adheres to the tooth surface and multiply. The types of bacteria that play a role in tartar formation vary from person to person. The proliferation of bacteria and food residues in the mouth, which play a role in stone formation, causes an increase in the plaques formed on the teeth. This situation accelerates the formation of tartar and begins to disrupt oral hygiene. If the tartar problem is not given due importance, it can cause greater damage to teeth and gums.
What are the symptoms of dental stone?
The most common symptom of tartar is the appearance of yellow or brown spots on the teeth that extend down to the gum tissue. These stains are formed by mineralized plaques adhering to tooth enamel. In addition, the presence and proliferation of dental tartar causes a rough surface on the teeth. A person with tartar in his mouth may experience a rough feeling when his tongue touches his teeth. Tartar can cause infection in the gum tissue and lead to gum problems. This may cause uncomfortable symptoms such as swelling and tenderness of the gums, bleeding, and redness. Since the structure of dental stones is predominantly bacteria, it can cause bad breath caused by bacteria in the mouth. It is important to consult a dentist for definitive diagnosis and treatment of these symptoms.
How is Dental Stone Treatment Done?
Dental tartar is cleaned from the tooth surface and dental tissue by dentists using hand tools or ultrasonic devices. The cleaning process is done including above and below the gum line. In addition, if tartar has weakened the bond between the gums and the teeth by causing an infection, it can be strengthened by surgical methods such as medication or root canal treatment. While ultrasonic devices used for tartar cleaning vibrate the tooth structure, they also soften the tartar using water flow and separate the tartar from the tooth and dental tissue. Hand tools are used to remove weak, thin dental plaque by scraping and filing.
In cases of intense accumulation of tartar that has not been treated and cleaned thoroughly, serious gum diseases and infection may occur. In this case, surgical treatment may be required. The dentist will determine the appropriate treatment method according to the infection status of the tooth and gum.
Scaling procedures performed with both hand and ultrasonic tools are generally painless, but people with sensitive teeth and gums may experience slight discomfort. People should always pay attention to oral hygiene before and after treatment and should have professional dental scaling regularly.
When Should Dental Stone Cleaning Be Done?
For healthy oral hygiene, it is important to have dental stone cleaning and control done by the dentist at least once a year. However, this period may vary individually depending on the effect of different underlying diseases, if any, on the person’s tooth structure.
Following the oral examination, the dentist determines the period of dental scaling that is suitable for the person. In addition, when symptoms such as redness, swelling, gum recession or bleeding occur in the teeth and gums, having an oral check-up and cleaning of tartar can reduce the risk of decay and infection in the teeth and gums in the future.
Does Dental Stone Cleaning Hurt?
Dental scaling performed by specialist doctors is mostly painless and does not cause any pain. During the treatment, local anesthesia is applied to numb the gums and the surrounding area. However, people with gum sensitivity or infection in the tooth structure may experience sensitivity or discomfort. This uncomfortable feeling is usually temporary and disappears within a few days after the scaling procedure. During dental scaling, slight pressure and sensitivity may be felt in areas close to the gums.
Is Dental Stone Cleaning Harmful?
Cleaning the stones from the teeth by a specialist doctor does not cause any damage to the teeth and dental tissue. Regular dental scaling is an important practice in protecting oral health. Dental tartar forms a rough surface on the teeth and is very difficult to clean with a toothbrush or dental floss. Dental tartar is gently removed from the tooth structure with special tools used by specialist doctors. This process helps to improve oral health and achieve a healthy structure. It is important to visit the dentist regularly and have dental scaling recommended by the doctor to maintain oral health.
Can dental stone be cleaned at home?
There are tartar scrapers or scaling tools for cleaning teeth at home. However, you may damage sensitive gums or teeth while using these tools. Additionally, when used in untrained hands, improperly used tools can damage tooth enamel.
How to Prevent Dental Stone Formation?
Planned and periodic tartar cleaning and checks, as well as regular daily tooth brushing and flossing, contribute to preventing the formation of tartar. Brushing your teeth regularly at least twice a day, using dental floss suitable for your mouth and teeth structure, consuming fresh vegetables and fruits to reduce bacteria, and using mouthwash can reduce the formation of tartar by reducing plaque formation on the teeth.
What Should Be Considered After Dental Stone Cleaning?
Tooth stone cleaning may cause a feeling of sensitivity in people’s teeth. This sensitivity is temporary and begins to decrease within a day or two. If sensitivity turns into pain, it is important to go to the dentist for a recheck. After cleaning the teeth, gently brush the teeth using the toothbrush and brushing technique recommended by the dentist. In addition, it is important to regularly clean the plaque and food residues on the teeth by using dental floss in a way that does not damage the dental tissue.
FAQ: Does Dental Stone Cleaning Make Teeth Thinner?
Tartar problem is a disease that causes aesthetic concern for people due to the appearance and stains it creates on the teeth, and damages the teeth and dental tissue. It can be cleaned with fast and permanent methods by specialist dentists in well-equipped hospitals.
Scaling is applied by dentists without damaging the natural structure of the tooth and does not thin the tooth.
How Long Does Dental Stone Cleaning Take?
Dental scaling can usually be done within an hour. Treatment duration varies depending on the amount of tartar accumulated on the teeth and the location of the tartar formation.
Will Dental Stone Grow Again?
Since tartar consists of plaque formed as a result of the combination of food residues left in the mouth with intraoral bacteria, regular oral hygiene with practices such as brushing teeth, using dental floss and periodic medical check-ups help prevent the accumulation of new plaque.
Does Dental Stone Cause Bad Breath?
Since a large part of the mass of the plaque accumulated on the teeth consists of bacteria, these bacteria can break down food waste and cause bad odor. Not cleaning the tartar for a long time increases bacterial accumulation and causes gum diseases, which can worsen bad breath.
How to Clean Teeth in Babies?
Baby tartar formation is not a very common situation. In rare cases, when tartar formation occurs, a dentist’s examination is required as soon as possible instead of intervention at home. After the examination, the treatment method determined by the doctor is applied.
Dental tartar is a condition that disturbs people both in terms of oral health and aesthetics. In order to increase the person’s quality of life and protect the health of their teeth and dental tissue, it is recommended to start treatment by making an appointment at the Oral and Dental Health Department.
