Tartar is a mineral deposit, usually yellow or brown in color, that forms when plaque is not completely removed through regular home oral hygiene practices.

When we eat, some food particles remain in the oral cavity, where they are attacked by bacteria, forming plaque. This plaque, combined with the saliva present in the mouth, tends to calcify and form tartar in about 12 to 18 hours.

This substance is very adhesive and resistant, making it unbreakable with a regular toothbrush. Tartar deposits can affect only the outer surface of the teeth or, in more severe cases, penetrate into the gum and periodontal pockets. Additionally, the porosity of tartar facilitates the buildup of bacteria that cause inflammation and more serious conditions.

Professional dental hygiene procedures allow for the removal of residues that daily tooth cleaning cannot eliminate, such as tartar. Regularly undergoing professional dental hygiene treatments helps prevent the formation of cavities and all related conditions, such as gum inflammation, gingivitis, periodontitis, and pyorrhea.

Like the dental check-up, teeth cleaning should also be done twice a year (depending on each individual patient) as it is essential for maintaining the constant health of the dental enamel, gums, and the oral cavity in general.

Typically, a tartar removal session lasts between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on the individual patient’s needs. The more often you undergo a dental hygiene session, the quicker the sessions will be. Just as the better you clean your home, the less there will be to remove each time. The duration of the treatment largely depends on the amount of plaque and tartar present in the oral cavity.

The dental hygiene treatment begins with the removal of plaque and tartar buildup from the tooth surfaces and the more isolated areas that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush. This procedure is performed using a tool called an ultrasonic scaler, which uses ultrasound to break apart hard tartar fragments and remove them. During the cleaning, the tool vibrates and simultaneously sprays a fine mist of water that washes away debris and prevents overheating of the tooth enamel.
Next, a special abrasive paste called polishing paste is used to eliminate all surface stains on the dental enamel, restoring the teeth to their natural color and giving them a pleasant shine.

First of all, descaling, by removing tartar and its porosity, reduces the bacterial load in the oral cavity, thereby helping to prevent the formation of cavities and gum infections.

Additionally, it decreases dental hypersensitivity and the bacterial load present in the mouth. The bacterial load is indeed the main cause of bad breath, and a professional hygiene session can resolve this issue permanently.

In general, by regularly undergoing professional oral hygiene sessions, excessive tartar buildup will be avoided, and teeth cleaning will not be uncomfortable or time-consuming. However, if the patient does not maintain a regular schedule for professional teeth cleaning, dental hygiene may become more uncomfortable than expected, and its duration may be longer than usual. In this case, anesthesia may be required to reduce discomfort.

No, cleaning your teeth at home or by yourself does not guarantee the same results as the scaling performed by a specialist. Tartar is a very resistant substance and cannot be removed with the home tools we are used to (manual toothbrush, electric toothbrush, dental floss, water flosser, interdental brush, etc.). The only way to eliminate such a hard substance is to visit your dentist at least twice a year for professional dental hygiene treatment. It is not advisable to purchase home kits or use DIY methods (such as baking soda, activated charcoal, or various oils) as they risk causing irreversible damage to the tooth enamel.