What Causes Dental Calculus? How is Calculus Treated?

Clean and spotless looking teeth are everyone's dream. Sometimes there may be brown spots and calculus on our teeth, especially on the back of the lower teeth. What causes dental calculus and how they are treated is given in our article.

What is Calculus?

There are pockets between our teeth and gums. These pockets fill with plaque if not flossing and proper brushing occurs. As the plaques fill into the pockets, they cause the gum and bone to recede. In the long run, these recessions can even cause tooth loss. Plaques are caused by the activities of bacteria in our mouth.

Although it has a white and soft appearance, it can be cleaned by brushing and using dental floss. However, if the plaques are not cleaned, they form calculus over time with bacterial functions and minerals in the saliva. Dental stones cannot be cleaned by brushing and flossing. Stones can only be cleaned with the intervention of a dentist.

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What Causes Dental Calculus?

It is formed as a result of not cleaning the calculus plaques. Some factors increase the formation of calculus. To give an example of these:

• To smoke
• Not brushing regularly
• Not using dental floss
• Incorrect brushing
• Drugs used
• Some systemic diseases

Smoking causes stone formation and staining on the teeth due to the changes in the salivary secretion. Excessive consumption of tea and coffee is also among the factors that cause staining.

Not brushing regularly prepares the environment for stone formation. Failure to clean the plaque inevitably causes it to turn into stone. Not brushing at least twice a day, not using dental floss, is the biggest factor in the transformation of plaque into the pockets in our gums. Especially floss is very important for cleaning pockets and interfaces of teeth.

Proper brushing is not a widely recognized element in our society. Each half chin should be brushed for at least thirty seconds. It is very important to know the correct brushing for cleaning the plaques in the pockets. Widely practiced horizontal brushing should only be done on the surfaces we chew. The anterior and posterior surfaces of the teeth should be brushed from the gum to the tooth. In this way, the plaques in the pockets are properly cleaned.

Drugs that contain cortisol, anticoagulants and drugs that are effective in salivation and staining, such as psychiatry, can cause tartar formation. Sjögren's disease also causes the formation of tartar, as it causes a decrease in salivary secretion.

How is Calculus Treated?

Although the plaques formed on the teeth can be cleaned with brushing and dental floss, the tartar is destroyed by the cleaning done by the dentists. This cleaning is done in two ways.

• Teeth cleaning with Cavitron: With the help of a vibrating tool called Cavitron, the stones are crushed and poured with the effect of vibration. Since the Cavitron works with water, it also prevents the heat generated by the vibration. It does not harm the own structure of the tooth in any way, thanks to its inhibited heating and vibration. It is a very effective and fast method as it also cleans the plaques inside the pockets.

• Curettage: It is the removal of plaques and stones in deep pockets with hand tools. Since it is done with anesthesia, no pain is felt. Stones and plaques on the root surface can be removed in this way.

After the cleaning process is finished, polishing is done and the teeth are brushed with cleaning pads. The polishing process also cleans the stains on the teeth. Deterring and polishing processes do not harm the tooth and do not cause more stone formation, contrary to the common belief.

What Should Be Considered After Teeth Cleaning?

You should pay attention to the "Oral Hygiene Rules and Practices" recommended by your dentist after tartar cleaning. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing and mouthwash with salt water is recommended in case of edema in your gums.

The correct brushing steps outlined must be followed. The front and back surfaces of the teeth should be brushed from the gingiva to the tooth, and brushing should be done for at least thirty seconds in each half jaw.

In the case of a bridge or veneer in the mouth, cleaning under these veneers and bridges is vital for the health of the underlying tooth. There is a special dental floss called "Superfloss" for cleaning under the bridge. With the use of this dental floss, plaque and stones accumulated between the bridge and your gums are prevented from harming the health of the underlying tooth.

Salt water gargle has a healing effect for edematous gums. Gargling with a teaspoon of salt in a tea glass of water helps in reducing the edema in the gums. The decrease in edema may have effects on the reduction of plaque accumulating in the gingival pocket and thus reducing the formation of stones.

If there is a drug used or a systemic disease affecting the gums, you should pay more attention to your oral hygiene. Gum diseases as well as caries cause tooth loss.

You should go to your doctor's controls regularly and determine your cleaning frequency and have your cleaning done at least once a year by following the determined period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does tartar cleaning cause more tartar formation?

No. Dental calculus cleaning is done to clean the calculus and prevent it from progressing. It does not cause more stone formation and staining.

Does scaling damage the teeth?

Teeth cleaning does not harm the teeth in any way. Since the tools used in tartar cleaning work with vibration, they do not cut the healthy tissue of the tooth. It does not have any harmful effect on the gums.

Is it normal to have pain after dental scaling?

It is normal to have a slight pain in scaling cleaning and curettage procedures, as it is a harmless intervention to the gums. It is expected to pass a few hours after the procedure.