Tartar

Tartar is a bacterial plaque hardened by salivary minerals, fossilised on the surface of the tooth and recognisable by its yellowish colour.

When tartar forms under the gums and in the gingival pockets, it is darker in colour and hard in texture.

Tartar is a very common nuisance, meaning that anyone can have tartar. Some people have more tartar, others less.

The accumulation of tartar is individual: some people are more susceptible to tartar and others have less trouble with it.

You can try to combat tartar by brushing your teeth thoroughly, cleaning the spaces between your teeth and having regular dental check-ups.

Most tartar that builds up on your teeth is not visible to you because it is often hidden under the gums and in the gingival pockets.

Only the tartar on top of the gums, or supragingival tartar, is visible. You can notice it as a yellowish tooth surface or a darker stain on the gumline of your teeth.

Tartar is a health hazard because it exposes you to gingivitis. At its worst, it can cause periodontitis, which can cause teeth to fall out and become inflamed.

With periodontitis, tartar can lead to serious illness, as the infection can spread to other parts of your body through your mouth. For example, the mouth can be the underlying cause of myocardial or cerebral infarctions.