While a good oral hygiene routine can really promote strong teeth and healthy gums, it’s not always possible to keep tartar at bay. Keeping up with exemplary oral hygiene through consistent and regular brushing and flossing can thwart the formation of tartar but may not entirely prevent it. This is why it is important to have dental scaling regularly performed by a dentist or dental hygienist.
Dental scaling is a process where accumulated tartar on the teeth is removed using a scaling device. The device can be a manual instrument or ultrasonic. Many dentists and dental hygienists use both devices in order to completely rid of tartar, especially in hard-to-reach areas and under the gum line. If your teeth and gums are healthy, dental scaling is typically painless and you’ll immediately feel and see positive results.
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Why is Dental Scaling Important?
Dental scaling is the only way to completely rid of tartar build-up. Brushing and flossing will not remove tartar as tartar is a hard substance that has been calcified on the surface of your teeth (and even under your gums) and needs to be scraped or ultrasonically removed.
Tartar is formed from plaque on the teeth that has not being removed in 24 hours. Plaque is sticky, colourless film of bacteria and is formed when leftover food particles in your teeth mix with bacteria in your mouth. When this mixture hardens, it turns into a yellowish substance called tartar.
Taking Preventative Measures
There are preventative measures that can be taken to help lessen plaque and tarter build up. Since bacteria and left-over food in your mouth are the main culprits of creating plaque, brushing your teeth regularly is an effective measure to take. Also include flossing in your routine as this can get rid of the food stuck in between your teeth where a toothbrush cannot clean.
It is also ideal to use mouth wash products to completely eliminate bacteria thriving in the corners of your mouth and your tongue. This will also help lessen the population of bacteria in your mouth for a longer period of time.
Not treating tartar formation can be detrimental to your oral health. Tartar formation also contributes to gum disease. When tartar forms under the gums, it can cause gums to recede, contribute to inflammation and even prevent the gums from adhering to your teeth.
If you wait until tartar has built up heavily in your mouth, it can be difficult and painful to remove the tartar. People already suffering from gum disease tend to experience sensitivity to the dental scaling procedure. If this is the case, your dentist might administer local anesthesia to make the procedure comfortable for you.
The benefits of dental scaling go beyond the cosmetic. Once the tartar build-up has been removed, your entire mouth will immediately feel cleaner and lighter.
It is important to visit your dentist at least twice a year and have a routine cleaning and include dental scaling. Doing this as preventative treatment will help lessen the likelihood of having future serious oral health problems. If you have questions about dental scaling or would like to have cleaning and scaling performed, our dentists at North Burnaby Dental Group would be happy to help.
