What Is the Difference Between Tartar and Calculus?
Posted on 5/1/2024 by Everglades Family Dental
You may have heard the word tartar with regard to your teeth and gums, but what about the word calculus? As it turns out, tartar and calculus are the same thing. Whether you call it tartar or calculus, it does not need to stay on your teeth. Here is some information about the problems tartar can cause.
How Does the Calculus Get on My Teeth?
Bacteria in your mouth cause plaque. Your mouth has different types of bacteria. Some strains of bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, are helpful to your body because they help your body break down the food you eat each day. However, there are also strains of bacteria that are harmful to your body, such as Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia, and pPorphyromonas gingivalis. These harmful bacteria can cause infection and inflammation in your mouth, as well as other areas of your body.
Plaque is caused by bacteria in your mouth. It remains on your teeth until you brush it away. You can easily remove plaque by cleaning your teeth. If you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly, the plaque, which is a mixture of dead bacteria and saliva, hardens into calculus or tartar.
What Should I Do About My Tartar?
If you do have tartar on your teeth, a dental hygienist can remove it with dental tools. However, calculus can form below your gumline, which means a dental hygienist cannot reach it. You will need to remove the calculus - whether it is above or below your gumline - so that it does not cause gum disease and inflammation. If you have a lot of tartar, you may need to have your gums deep cleaned both above and below the gumline. Our dentist can get your gums as clean as possible and also check you for signs of gum disease. If you have gum disease, you may need to return more often for deep cleanings - perhaps every three or four months.
Not sure whether you have calculus? Our dentist can clean and check your gums and give you a program to keep them as healthy as possible. Contact us today.
Dentist Pembroke Pines, FL | Everglades Family Dental At Everglades Family Dental we want our patients to maintain healthy, bright, beautiful smiles, and make you feel comfortable. Everglades Family Dental - Dr. Thomas Crowgey, 16024 Pines Blvd, Suite 106, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027 - (754) 764-0465 - evergladesfamilydental.com - 1/22/2025 - Associated Words: dentist Pembroke Pines -
You may have heard the word tartar with regard to your teeth and gums, but what about the word calculus? As it turns out, tartar and calculus are the same thing. Whether you call it tartar or calculus, it does not need to stay on your teeth. Here is some information about the problems tartar can cause.