Every day, the bacteria present in your mouth form plaque from your food. This is a white layer on the teeth, usually against the gums. This layer is harmful to tooth tissue and gums and can cause tooth decay and inflammation.
Fortunately, plaque is soft and can be brushed away fairly easily. However, if it is present for too long, it can mineralise into tartar under the influence of saliva. This tartar is hard and sticks firmly to teeth. As a result, it can no longer be brushed away and it is recommended that it be removed by dental cleaning.
Healthy gums are tight and pink in colour. It does not bleed during brushing or tooth brushing. The presence of plaque and tartar can cause gingivitis, which is a bacterial infectious disease that usually does not cause pain. Inflamed gums look red and swollen and bleed easily during brushing. When only the gums are inflamed we speak of gingivitis, but if the jawbone also becomes involved in the inflammation, the inflammation worsens to periodontitis. In that case, the bone level will recede, causing the roots of teeth to become less and less set in the bone.
Our prevention assistant can help you prevent plaque and tartar as much as possible with a dental cleaning. By colouring the dental cleaning plaque, she can clearly show where it has accumulated, and using brushing instructions, she can guide you to keep your teeth cleaner. Furthermore, she will remove the tartar present and then polish all tooth surfaces, so your teeth are clean and smooth again.
In the case of periodontitis, the tartar is under the gums and removal of it by the dentist be performed with a dental cleaning.