Dental Calculus, Everything You Need To Know
What’s dental calculus?
Dental calculus, sometimes referred to as tartar, is mineralized dental plaque. Calculus is present in the majority of humans, but the amount varies greatly between individuals and populations. Calculus development is influenced by oral self-care, frequency of dental treatment, age, systemic health, food, and ethnicity.
Calculus contributes heavily to periodontal disease by retaining tooth plaque on its rough surface.
The human mouth is home to a diverse range of bacteria, both commensal and pathogenic, forming what is known as the human oral microbiome. The most common plaque-forming microbes are Streptococcus and Actinomyces species, but calculus frequently contains Veillonella species.
How dental calculus is formed?
The production of calculus begins with plaque buildup. Plaque is a biofilm that forms on the tooth surface over time and contains anaerobic bacteria and their compounds. It builds up over time if not removed, which is why it is frequent in difficult-to-clean locations like the back teeth. It is also present where the salivary ducts open into the mouth, such as on the inside surface of the lower front teeth and the exterior surfaces of the molars.
As a byproduct of their metabolism, anaerobic bacteria in tooth plaque create acids. These provide an acidic environment in the mouth, resulting in calcium loss from the tooth enamel (demineralization). Saliva contains calcium, phosphorus, and other elements that are absorbed by tooth plaque and strengthen its structure. Dental calculus is a hardened structure. Its primary component is calcium phosphate, a hard, insoluble substance that sticks to dental enamel.
Dental calculus roughens the surface of the tooth crown and roots, allowing additional bacteria and minerals to cling to the existing plaque much more easily. The roughened surface of dental calculus, together with the acids generated by plaque bacteria, creates an excellent environment for the collection and proliferation of dental plaque. The buildup of new calculus layers on teeth is caused by repeated cycles of acid generation, calcium loss, and calcium phosphate deposits.
Calculus can be either subgingival (below the gum) or supragingival (above the gum). The one above the gum is often yellowish white to brownish yellow in hue, and the one below the gum is a deeper tint that can even be green, grey, or black. This is due to blood cell breakdown chemicals accumulating beneath the gum.
Is dental calculus common?
Yes, The majority of persons worldwide have supra- and subgingival dental calculus. Oral hygiene practices availability to professional care, nutrition, age, ethnic origin, time since last dental cleaning, systemic illness, and prescription drug usage all influence calculus levels and site of development.
Supragingival dental calculus production is limited to tooth surfaces close to the salivary ducts in populations that practice good oral hygiene and have access to frequent professional treatment.
Does dental calculus smell
The calculus cannot produce any foul odors or poor breath. Halitosis can also be caused by poor dental hygiene, gum disease, cavities, tooth decay, or mouth infections. Infections of the lungs, sinuses, or airways, as well as stomach illnesses, can all contribute to poor breath.
If you have periodontal disease, this might add to the cause of foul breath. This is when plaque accumulates and calculus forms around our teeth. Finally, bacteria and fungal buildup on your tongue is an unexpected but widespread source of foul breath.
Can dental calculus be removed?
Dental calculus is mineralized plaque; due to its porous nature, it may absorb a variety of harmful chemicals that might harm periodontal tissues. As a result, calculus must be correctly diagnosed and thoroughly removed for proper periodontal treatment. Many approaches have been developed to detect and remove calculus deposits on the root surface.
Can dental plaque be removed at home?
You can only remove plaque and it can only be removed by practicing good dental hygiene. There are several ways for eliminating the plaque and preventing it from spreading. Some successful methods for removing dental calculus include:
Brushing your teeth- Brushing your teeth on a regular basis is an excellent way to preserve dental hygiene. Cleaning the back of your teeth with a soft bristle toothbrush is recommended. Brushing your teeth twice a day—once in the morning and once before bed—is recommended. Brushing your teeth keeps plaque from hardening and developing into calculus.
Using Activated Charcoal- Brushing your teeth with activated charcoal is similar to brushing your teeth with baking soda in that it will not remove all of your calculus build-ups, but it will help break it up. There are also new research that shows that adding charcoal to your diet has additional significant health advantages. So if you unintentionally consume any, it will not harm you and may even be beneficial. Again, don’t overdo it with activated charcoal. Because it might weaken the enamel of your teeth if used excessively.
Ultimately we must understand that dental calculus takes a long time to be eliminated from your teeth. A dentist should be considered for the speedy removal of the same. A dentist employs cutting-edge dental calculus removal techniques that are both rapid and effective. Debridement is the process of removing calculus.
An experienced dentist will utilize an ultrasonic instrument or a hand-held scaling tool during this procedure. To eliminate the calculus, the ultrasonic equipment employs high-frequency vibrations in conjunction with water.
What you can do to prevent plaque & calculus buildup.
Tongue cleaning
Tongue cleaning, also known as tongue scraping, should be the first thing you do when you get up. Why you could ask? During sleep, your entire body and mind undergo cleansing, relaxing, and repair processes. For example, your pituitary gland produces hormones that aid in the cleansing of your body, your sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system relaxes, and your immune system gets an opportunity to strengthen. Your body excretes ama during these critical activities. Toxins are referred to as ama in Sanskrit.
The Ayurvedic practice of tongue scraping is one of the most underestimated techniques to clear our mouths of accumulated toxins called ama. When you get up in the morning, you can see the buildup of ama in the back of your tongue by looking in the bathroom mirror and stretching your tongue out of your mouth. You’ll probably notice a covering on the back of your tongue.
Oil Pulling.
You’ve probably heard about oil pulling, which has become a health craze in the United States. Despite the fact that many individuals use oil pulling, they may be unaware that this dental care procedure has its roots in Ayurveda. Oil pulling, also known as Kavala Graha or Gandusha in Sanskrit, is the practice of drawing or swishing oil through the teeth for twenty minutes to improve general dental health and cleanliness. This exercise should be done every morning after tongue washing.
Oil pulling with sesame or coconut oil generated a substantial decrease in plaque formation when done for at least seven days, and scores continued to fall each day thereafter, according to research on oil pulling and gingivitis (4). Oil pulling can help alleviate pain, swelling, and inflammation by eliminating plaque.
Rinse with Triphala water
Triphala is as effective as a mouth rinse to prescription (a.k.a. strong) mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine in reducing and preventing plaque, gingivitis, streptococcus mutans (a bacterium believed to cause tooth decay), and lactobacillus acidophilus (another bacteria known to cause tooth decay and cavities).
To rinse your mouth with Triphala, you’ll need to prepare a Triphala churna. In a small cup, combine 1/2 teaspoon Triphala powder with 1/2 cup fresh, warm, or room-temperature water. Allow at least 1 minute for this mixture to rest. Swish the Triphala churna, and rinse in your mouth as you would any mouthwash once it has been infused. Expel the rinse and then rinse your mouth with warm or room temperature water.
Chew herbal Sticks
You can use chew sticks after each meal, which is an Ayurvedic technique. Chewing of medicinal sticks was described in Ayurveda as early as 200 B.C.E., and medical research has proven that they aid with plaque reduction as well as antibacterial and antifungal properties. Chew sticks also offer the added benefit of assisting smokers in quitting their dangerous habit of smoking after meals.
