Tooth tartar can cause gingivitis, make your breath smell bad and can even pose a health risk over time.
- Tartar is a risk factor for gingivitis, which can lead to periodontitis, a disease that threatens your general health.
- Tartar removal is not painful. Dental hygienists and dentists at Hammas Mehiläinen remove tartar gently and, if necessary, under anaesthesia.
You can tell you have tartar if you have:
- a yellowish discolouration on the surface of the tooth
- dark discolouration at the gumline
- black tartar spotting under the gums
- bad breath
- gingivitis
You may not be able to see the tartar yourself, as it often hides in the gingival pockets and under the gums.
It is typical for a dentist or dental hygienist to notice the tartar. During a dental check-up, the dentist will check your teeth and, if necessary, refer you to a dental hygienist for the removal of tartar.
Of course, you can also make an appointment with a dental hygienist to clean your teeth and remove tartar.
At Hammas Mehiläinen, we use the latest and most effective instruments for removing tartar:
- Hand instruments are used to remove tartar from the tooth surface and gingival pockets.
- In powder cleaning, the combined effect of compressed air, water and a fine powder cleans bacterial covers and stains from teeth.
- The ultrasonic vibration micro-flow effectively removes tartar and bacterial covers.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not possible to remove tartar at home. Only a dentist or dental hygienist can remove the tartar without damaging your teeth.
Tartar is a bacterial plaque hardened by salivary minerals, fossilised on the surface of the tooth and recognisable by its yellowish colour.
When tartar forms under the gums and in the gingival pockets, it is darker in colour and hard in texture.
Tartar is a very common nuisance, meaning that anyone can have tartar. Some people have more tartar, others less.
Tartar can seem like a minor issue - after all, it doesn't feel like anything and it doesn't always show.
However, bad tartar can cause a lot of problems and can lead to serious health problems.
Here's how tartar removal can improve your well-being:
- Prevention of gingivitis. The rough tartar that accumulates in the gumline provides a favourable environment for bacteria that cause gingivitis.
- Prevention of periodontitis. Gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease, which can cause inflammation throughout your body and cause your tooth to fall out.
- Overall health. Bacteria can spread from your mouth to the rest of your body and make you sick. An infection in your mouth is a risk to your overall health.
- Fresh breath Tooth tartar causes bad breath.
If you have a lot of tartar under your gums or have gingivitis, removing tartar with a hand instrument may feel unpleasant. For some, ultrasound removal of tartar may cause dental sensation.
However, the removal of the tartar need not hurt! Did you know that a dental hygienist can anaesthetise the areas to be treated, either with an injection or a surface anaesthetic? The use of different tools and methods can also be agreed with the dental hygienist.
If you have bad tartar, its removal can be divided into two treatment sessions. During the first session, the dental hygienist will clean most of the tartar, and once the gingivitis starts to heal, the second session will feel easier.
Let your dental hygienist know if you're nervous about having tartar removed. (Ohjaus Hammaslääkäripelko-sisältöön) We always take your wishes into account!
The frequency of tartar removal varies. For some, three months is suitable, for others every year is enough.
Your dental hygienist will tell you at your appointment when it would be a good time for your next tartar removal and teeth cleaning.
Tartar build-up is individual. However, here is how you can prevent tartar:
- Brush your teeth thoroughly. Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste along the gumline for a few minutes in the morning and evening. Use an electric toothbrush for the cleanest result.
- Remember to clean the spaces between your teeth too. Use an interdental brush, brush stick or floss once a day. The dental hygienist will advise you on the choice of equipment suitable for your mouth and instructions on good technique.
- Attend the dental check-up regularly. Your dentist will detect tartar build-up on your teeth and refer you to a dental hygienist.
- Visit your dental hygienist regularly. Your dental hygienist will clean your teeth thoroughly.
A visit to a dental hygienist at Hammas Mehiläinen includes complete dental cleaning. See our price list.
Price is no obstacle to the removal of tartar, as Hammas Mehiläinen’s flexible payment options.
The specialist interviewed for the article was Dental Hygienist Pia-Maria Eskola.
The accumulation of tartar is individual: some people are more susceptible to tartar and others have less trouble with it.
You can try to combat tartar by brushing your teeth thoroughly, cleaning the spaces between your teeth and having regular dental check-ups.
Most tartar that builds up on your teeth is not visible to you because it is often hidden under the gums and in the gingival pockets.
Only the tartar on top of the gums, or supragingival tartar, is visible. You can notice it as a yellowish tooth surface or a darker stain on the gumline of your teeth.
Tartar is a health hazard because it exposes you to gingivitis. At its worst, it can cause periodontitis, which can cause teeth to fall out and become inflamed.
With periodontitis, tartar can lead to serious illness, as the infection can spread to other parts of your body through your mouth. For example, the mouth can be the underlying cause of myocardial or cerebral infarctions.
It usually takes 45 minutes to remove the tartar and clean your teeth. If there is a lot of tartar, the removal may take longer.
At Hammas Mehiläinen, removal of tartar by a dental hygienist always includes cleaning the teeth. Learn more about the price of removing tartar and cleaning your teeth in our price list.
Our flexible payment methods enable good dental care in different situations.
Tartar is removed at the dentist's or dental hygienist's office.
