How can you remove tartar naturally?
introduction
Tartar is understood to be hard coatings on the teeth, which can usually arise from plaque deposits and should always be removed, as they promote inflammation in the mouth and caries formation. They also play a crucial role in the development of periodontitis.
Tartar is built up from Saliva components, food residues, stored minerals and Bacterial cells with their Metabolic products. Since tartar attaches itself very effectively to teeth, it is hardly possible to remove it with normal tooth brushing, which is why only a thorough professional tooth cleaning at the dentist guarantees the removal of hard deposits.
Removal of tartar with home remedies
There are various recommendations circulating on the Internet on how to easily remove the annoying tartar deposits with the help of home remedies. The housewife tips range from citric acid to baking soda to tea tree oil.
However, such advice should be viewed critically, as it often has no effect and can also attack healthy teeth and damage them over a long period of time.
Some of these home remedies are listed and rated below so that the reader can get a rough overview. If you have heard of a remedy for tartar that is not mentioned here, it is advisable to talk to your dentist about it before using it, otherwise you risk damaging your teeth and gums.
Generally speaking, tartar can be prevented by good oral hygiene. Once the hard tartar deposits develop, they can no longer be removed simply by brushing your teeth. We recommend professional teeth cleaning in order to professionally remove the plaque from the teeth and polish to prevent the accumulation of new tartar. This is often associated with costs if the health insurance company does not take over the professional teeth cleaning. Alternatively, you can have a simple tartar removal performed.
Learn more at: Professional teeth cleaning and removal of tartar
Remove with tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Its antibacterial effect is valued by many and used for a wide variety of complaints. So it should also be useful against tartar. In fact, the oil is supposed to kill the bacteria that cling to the tartar and thus reduce the build-up of tartar. In addition, the lower number of germs presumably counteracts the development of caries and periodontitis.
How effective the tea tree oil is in prevention has not yet been clarified. But the real goal is not achieved because of the substance cannot remove the calcified deposits, which is why the tartar remains. Thus, the herbal product has a positive effect, which is limited. It is also important to mention that even several drops of the oil can cause irritation in the oral cavity and thus quickly cause damage.
Remove with baking soda
A main ingredient in baking soda is baking soda. This is a chemical compound that has an alkaline reaction. That means it can neutralize the acids in the oral cavity. At this point it becomes problematic when it comes to removing tartar, because the stored minerals can only be removed from the tartar in an acidic environment. It quickly becomes clear that this Baking soda cannot remove tartar. Baking powder also has abrasive properties, which is why it acts like sandpaper on the teeth when brushing your teeth and, with frequent use, removes the hard tooth substance, which leads to severe defects. In conclusion, it can be said that baking powder is not suitable for removing tartar, but in the form of a mouth rinse it can neutralize the aggressive acids in the mouth and thus still has a small positive effect.
Remove with citric acid
Another home remedy for removing tartar is lemons. The citric acid contained in it attacks the tartar and causes components to be dissolved out and the plaque to soften. The weakened tartar can then be removed with a toothbrush. What sounds promising in theory can actually cause great damage to teeth. The reason for this is that the acid attacks not only the tartar but also the tooth enamel itself. Lemon juice has a pH of 2.4, which can be classified as quite acidic. Tooth enamel is dissolved from a pH value of approx. 5.4 and the top layers soften. Normally the body can remineralize the enamel and no damage occurs. If, however, a toothbrush is scrubbed over the teeth during this time, the weakened tooth components are removed and considerable amounts of tooth enamel are brushed away in a short time, which then too can no longer be reproduced by the body. In this case one speaks of erosion of the teeth. With prolonged use, parts of the dentin are exposed, which are more prone to caries and also pose an aesthetic problem due to their yellow color.
Therefore, citric acid should definitely not be used to remove tartar, as it removes more tooth enamel than tartar.
Ultrasonic removal
In contrast to the other methods, ultrasound is suitable for combating tartar. The extremely fast vibrations cause cracks to form in the deposits and eventually flake off. Thus, a reduction in tartar can also be achieved at home. It should be mentioned that you still cannot completely remove tartar from your teeth. Only professional teeth cleaning can guarantee complete removal of tartar. Incidentally, ultrasound systems are used in many practices to remove tartar, which speaks for the effectiveness of the ultrasound. However, these are only used in combination with other methods.
You should also be aware that most sonic toothbrushes from the well-known manufacturers work with sound and not with ultrasound. This means that they vibrate a little slower and therefore have less effect, but that does not mean that they are ineffective. You too help, To prevent tartar. There are only two models of ultrasonic toothbrushes that are made for domestic use and since they are significantly more expensive than sonic toothbrushes, you can use the cheaper sonic toothbrushes with a clear conscience.
Remove with vinegar
Vinegar is another home remedy that is often recommended online for removing tartar. But even in this case you shouldn't let yourself be deterred and prefer not to use it. The acetic acid it contains has pretty similar effects to citric acid. This means that although it can dissolve the tartar somewhat, it also attacks the enamel at the same time and thus does more harm than good. With prolonged use, significant portions of the tooth enamel are dissolved up to the exposure of dentin, which leads to increased sensitivity to pain, yellow discoloration and an increased risk of tooth decay.
Remove with gel
There are now gels on the market that advertise their anti-scaling effects. The components of these gels are vegetable oils, herbal extracts and alcohol. You shouldn't expect any major changes when using it, as removal with the help of the ingredients is hardly possible.
Nevertheless, the gels can have a positive effect on oral health. Many of the oils it contains have antibacterial properties and help eliminate bacteria and inflammation in the mouth. Due to the improved oral health there is also less plaque and tartar, which is why the use of gels can be considered a preventive measure against tartar. It is still not possible to remove existing tartar.
Remove with grapefruit
As a natural substance, grapefruit extract is said to have an antibacterial character, which is nevertheless not very helpful in combating tartar. There is still no scientific evidence that the substances contained in grapefruit have positive effects on oral health. It should also be noted that the acids in the fruit attack and damage tooth enamel. From this it can be concluded that the positive properties of grapefruit should be used to increase well-being and not to remove tartar.
Remove with the tartar scraper
Tartar scrapers are special instruments used to manually remove tartar. They are made of metal and have a sharp end that is easy to blast away tartar. Similar instruments are also used in professional teeth cleaning. In general, it can be said that the tartar scratches are a good opportunity to do something about tartar. However, they are not a real alternative for everyone, as it takes a certain amount of skill and can quickly damage the gums. Therefore you should let the dentist show you how best to use the scratches.
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