Many people wonder if it is safe to remove hardened plaque (tartar) using an at-home dental pick. Dental calculus, commonly known as tartar, is a crusty deposit that forms on the tooth surface and feels rough to the touch. This substance is firmly bonded to the teeth and cannot be removed through regular brushing and flossing alone. This article details the nature of tartar, the serious risks of self-scaling, and the necessity of professional dental care.
Understanding Tartar and Dental Picks
Tartar is dental plaque that has undergone mineralization, becoming a hard, porous deposit. Plaque is a soft, sticky biofilm composed of bacteria, food debris, and saliva that forms on teeth within hours of cleaning. If this plaque is not removed, minerals like calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate from the saliva precipitate into the film, causing it to harden into dental calculus.
Once formed, tartar provides a rough surface that encourages the adhesion of more plaque. A dental pick, or scaler, is a specialized hand instrument featuring a slender handle and a sharp working end. Dental professionals use these tools to mechanically scrape the deposits of calculus off the tooth surface, both above and below the gum line.
Dangers of Self-Scaling
Attempting to use a sharp dental pick presents a significant risk of causing immediate and long-term damage to your oral health. The most immediate concern is trauma to the delicate gum tissue, which can result in painful lacerations and subsequent gum recession. Gum recession exposes the tooth roots, leading to increased sensitivity and making the root surface, which is softer than enamel, more vulnerable to decay.
The sharp metal tip of a scaler can easily scratch or score the enamel. These microscopic defects create new, rough areas where plaque can accumulate more easily and rapidly, counteracting the intended goal of the procedure. Furthermore, an untrained hand is likely to push existing tartar, along with bacteria, down into the sulcus, the shallow space between the tooth and the gum.
This action can create or deepen periodontal pockets, trapping harmful bacteria and significantly increasing the risk of developing a serious gum infection or abscess. Damaging the gum tissue can introduce bacteria into the bloodstream, a condition known as bacteremia, which poses a risk of systemic infection. Injuries to the soft tissues of the tongue, cheek, or mouth are also common when maneuvering a sharp instrument without proper training and visibility.
Why Professional Care is Necessary
The removal of calculus, a procedure called scaling, requires precision, specialized training, and equipment that is not available at home. Dental hygienists undergo extensive education to master the precise angles and pressure required to remove tartar without harming the enamel or gum tissue. They are trained to identify and remove calculus that has formed subgingivally, or below the gum line, which is impossible to see or safely access at home.
Dental professionals use specialized tools, such as ultrasonic scalers, which utilize high-frequency vibrations to shatter the hard calculus deposits. These devices are often paired with a water spray that flushes away debris and cools the tooth surface. They also use high-powered magnification, such as dental loupes, and bright focused lighting to ensure complete removal of deposits from all tooth surfaces, including the root structure. Professional cleaning also includes a comprehensive examination using X-rays to assess the extent of bone loss. Following the mechanical removal of tartar, a hygienist will polish the teeth to smooth out any microscopic roughness, making it more difficult for new plaque to adhere.
Prevention and Management of Tartar
Since existing tartar must be professionally removed, the most effective strategy for the individual is to prevent its formation between dental appointments. This begins with meticulous oral hygiene focused on removing soft plaque before it has a chance to mineralize.
Preventing Plaque Mineralization
- Brushing twice daily for two minutes, ideally with an electric toothbrush, can significantly reduce the amount of plaque biofilm on the teeth.
- Daily flossing or the use of interdental cleaners is necessary to disrupt plaque in the tight spaces between teeth and along the gum line, areas where tartar commonly forms first.
- Tartar-control toothpastes are formulated with specific ingredients to inhibit the hardening process of plaque. Active agents like pyrophosphates work by binding to the calcium and phosphate ions in saliva, preventing them from crystallizing into calculus.
- Some formulations also include zinc citrate, which further helps to inhibit plaque formation by reducing the bacterial load.
- Limiting the consumption of sugary and acidic foods and beverages also reduces the fuel source for the bacteria that produce the initial plaque layer.
By focusing on consistent, high-quality home care, you can reduce the rate of calculus formation and maintain a healthy environment for your gums and teeth.