Sometimes the plaque on your teeth can harden into tartar without professional cleaning. Calculus can sneak up on you anytime. One moment, your smile looks fine. However, you might soon see discoloration near your gums and experience bleeding while brushing. Even regular hygiene might not be enough to prevent it.
However, preventive dentistry can help you prevent this issue. Read this blog to learn about the role of dental care in protecting your oral health.
What Is Calculus?
Calculus, also called tartar, happens when soft plaque isn’t removed and gets hardened by minerals in your saliva. Once that transformation takes place, no toothbrush or floss can remove it. It’s cemented onto your teeth and often sneaks beneath your gumline, feeding bacteria and triggering gum inflammation.
That’s where preventive dental care comes into play. It’s a full-on strategy for preventing problems that require complex treatments. According to studies, almost 67% of adults in America suffer from subgingival calculus.
Why Shouldn’t Calculus Be Ignored?
Calculus goes way deeper than just being a cosmetic concern. Lack of timely care can result in:
- Gingivitis: This is the first stage of gum disease, and it starts with red, swollen gums.
- Periodontitis: If gingivitis worsens, you can experience bleeding and pain. It involves bone loss, gum recession, and even loose teeth.
- Persistent Bad Breath: This disease traps odor-causing bacteria in all the hard-to-reach places.
- Tooth Decay: Bacteria from tartar also produce acids that can erode your enamel and create cavities.
However, preventive dentistry does have treatment options that can protect you from this dental condition.
Scaling: Deep Cleaning For Your Smile
Scaling is often the first go-to procedure for removing calculus. This procedure is not that scary or painful. A dental professional uses a specialized tool to scrape away hardened tartar from both above and below the gumline. You will experience only mild vibrations and the sensation of the water spray from the tools.
This is the only way to detach tartar physically. Brushing and flossing won’t be able to help you out. Your teeth will feel cleaner and your breath will feel fresher.
Root Planing: Healing Below the Surface
Root planing can provide a deeper cleaning than scaling. This procedure will smooth out the roots of your teeth after scaling. Bacteria and toxins can cling to rough root surfaces, so this treatment polishes them clean. This treatment helps gums reattach to the teeth, reducing pocket depths.
It will stop the disease in its tracks. It is often combined with scaling, especially for those with early gum disease. The goal is to create an environment where healthy tissue can regenerate.
Antibacterial Rinses and Localized Antibiotics
Once the calculus is out of the way, the dental team may use additional treatments to clear out lingering bacteria.
- Rinses: Medicated mouthwashes or solutions might be used to flush pockets and soothe inflamed tissues.
- Localized delivery: Sometimes, antibiotics are placed directly into deeper gum pockets using gels or microspheres to target remaining bacteria.
These therapies act as reinforcements, ensuring your mouth stays clean during the healing phase.
Air Polishing for Finishing Touches
Ever wondered how some people’s teeth look squeaky clean after a dental visit? Air polishing might be the reason. A pressurized jet of air, water, and fine powder is sprayed to remove residual plaque, stains, and soft debris on your teeth.
This smooths the enamel and gives teeth that post-cleaning glow. The powder can reach small crevices and reduce plaque bacteria, providing both cosmetic and functional benefits.
Laser Therapy: High-Tech and Minimally Invasive
In some cases, the dentist may use lasers to target bacteria and inflamed tissue.
- Precision-focused: The laser can sterilize areas affected by gum disease and help reshape infected tissue with minimal bleeding.
- Supportive role: It’s often used alongside scaling and root planing, especially when conventional methods need high-tech assistance.
While it’s not used in every case, laser therapy represents the evolving future of preventive dentistry.
How Can You Prevent Calculus?
Removing calculus is just the solution to your existing problem. However, preventing this serious dental issue is the actual solution to your situation. Here’s how to keep tartar from damaging your teeth:
- Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss daily if you want to disrupt plaque before it hardens.
- Rinse regularly with an antimicrobial mouthwash to reduce bacteria in hard-to-reach places.
- Professional checkups every six months are a core part of preventive dentistry. They’re non-negotiable for calculus control.
- Watch your diet. Sugary and starchy snacks feed the bacteria that start the problem.
Life gets busy, stress piles up, and sometimes you might end up ignoring oral care. You must respond before things get too serious. That’s precisely where preventive dentistry shines by stepping in early, addressing buildup, and keeping gums and teeth healthy.
Dental procedures for removing calculus are not just about fixing a problem; they’re about restoring comfort and control. The right dental care can keep your smile intact for a long time in the future. Schedule a consultation today to learn more.