Dental Scaling

Dental scaling is a procedure performed by a dentist using special equipment to clean plaque and tartar accumulated on tooth surfaces. It carries great importance for the prevention of tooth loss and gum diseases. Specialist Dentist Emin Serhat Arıkan, serving patients in Adana, explained for you what Dental Scaling is and how it is done.

What Is Dental Scaling?

Plaque leading to the formation of tartar accumulates on the surface of the teeth over time, causing tooth decay and the occurrence of a number of gum diseases. With dental scaling, it is possible to clean the accumulated tartar and plaque from the teeth and protect the person's general dental health.

Why Does Tartar Occur?

Tartar occurs with the hardening of tartar and plaque accumulated on the teeth. Plaque is a sticky layer that constantly forms in the mouth. This layer contains bacteria, food residues, and saliva. Brushing teeth regularly and using dental floss helps clean plaque. However, if sufficient care is not paid to oral care and hygiene, plaque hardens over time and turns into tartar. Tartar often occurs behind or between teeth. It has a brown appearance.

How Is Tartar Cleaned?

Dental scaling is a procedure that must be done by dentists using professional methods. During dental scaling, the dentist cleans the tartar accumulated on the teeth by utilizing some special equipment. Among this equipment are special dental picks, ultrasonic devices, and small hand instruments. The dentist may intervene specifically in the back part of the teeth with special instruments to clean the plaque accumulating in the back part of the teeth. Therefore, you need to visit your dentist in regular periods to clean tartar and plaque.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Scaling?

Dental scaling carries great importance for the protection of a person's oral and dental health. Having dental scaling done helps prevent cavities in teeth and potential gum diseases. After dental scaling, teeth have a much whiter and brighter appearance. Dental scaling, which is often a painless procedure, can sometimes be painful for patients with gum diseases or different health problems.

What Are the Ways to Prevent Tartar Formation?

To prevent tartar formation, you need to brush your teeth regularly and use dental floss and an interdental brush. Besides these, you need to go to routine dentist check-ups. Dentists may also make some recommendations to prevent the accumulation of plaque and tartar on teeth. Generally, the methods used to prevent tartar formation are as follows:

You need to brush your teeth at least twice a day. During tooth brushing, soft-bristled toothbrushes and fluoride toothpastes should be used. Fluoride substance helps prevent damage to tooth enamel. It allows you to fight against bacteria forming tartar.

Using dental floss allows you to reach and clean areas that toothbrushes cannot reach. However, if you use antiseptic mouthwash regularly, you can clean bacteria leading to plaque formation.

Refraining from consuming sugary and starchy foods while eating can trigger bacterial production and, as a result, accelerate the formation process of tartar.  Besides this, drinking plenty of water can also help you prevent tartar formation. Smoking consumption is among the most important causes of gum diseases. Consuming cigarettes can cause tartar formation. Therefore, quitting smoking is among the precautions you can take against the formation of tartar.

Finally, not neglecting your dentist check-ups allows you to intervene early against tartar formations and helps you detect gum diseases early and take necessary precautions.

What Conditions Can Tartar Cause?

Tartar is the most basic cause of gum diseases. The most common gum diseases seen in the general population are situations such as redness, swelling, bleeding, and gum recession. Bacteria causing tartar can lead to many serious health problems, primarily tooth loss. If we need to list the negativities caused by tartar:

• Tartar causes acid-producing bacteria to destroy tooth enamel, and this prepares the ground for the formation of cavities in teeth.
• If tartar is not cleaned, it opens the door to gum diseases.
• Tartar damages the bone tissue creating the teeth. As a result, serious pictures extending to tooth losses may occur. In such cases, teeth can easily break or may need to be extracted.
• Since tartar feeds bacteria, it can cause bad breath.
• It causes damage to tooth enamel, and tooth sensitivity may be experienced.

In Whom Is Tartar Seen More Commonly?

Tartar is a health problem that can be encountered in people of almost every age group. However, some people are more prone to tartar formation compared to others. If we need to list the situations where tartar is seen more frequently:

• In cases where sufficient oral and dental hygiene cannot be provided
• In elderly individuals
• In people who smoke
• In people who feed on acidic beverages and sugary foods
• If there are gaps between teeth or if teeth are crooked
• Tartar formation is seen more commonly in cases where saliva secretion is not sufficient and in people experiencing dry mouth. Apart from this, some medications used can also cause tartar formation.

If you carry the risks we listed above, your risk of forming tartar is higher, and you need to have dental examinations more frequently.

Is Dental Scaling Harmful?

Dental scaling does not cause any harm to the teeth. On the contrary, teeth cleaning and dental scaling ensure the prevention of potential oral and dental health problems. Tartar is a hard-structured substance occurring as a result of the hardening of plaque accumulated on teeth. Therefore, it is not possible to remove tartar by brushing teeth or using dental floss. Dental scaling must be applied by a professional dentist under clinical conditions. When performed under these conditions, tooth enamel or gums do not suffer any damage. However, after dental scaling, gum bleeding or tooth sensitivity may be felt, albeit rarely. But all these disappear spontaneously within a short time.

Does Drinking Green Tea Prevent Tartar Formation?

Although consuming green tea regularly helps prevent the formation of tartar, existing tartar may need to be cleaned by a dentist. Some components located in green tea; can prevent or slow down bacterial growth and dental plaque formation. Green tea can also be used as a mouthwash.

Can Dental Scaling Be Done at Home?

Dental scaling is not a procedure that can be applied at home. It is performed by a specialist dentist, under clinical conditions, using professional equipment. Things done at home to clean tartar may cause damage to gums and tooth enamel. In contrast, there are some precautions you can take at home to prevent the formation of new tartar.

Is Baking Soda Beneficial in Case of Tartar?

Baking soda is not a product recommended to be applied directly against tartar. Because baking soda contains the danger of damaging tooth enamel and making teeth much more sensitive. Consequently, your teeth become more prone to tartar formation.

How Often Should Dental Scaling Be Done?

Dental scaling is a procedure that often needs to be applied in six-month periods. Besides this, if excessive plaque or tartar accumulation is in question, dentists may recommend doing dental scaling at more frequent intervals.